The World's End
Starring: Simon Pegg, Nick Frost, Paddy Considine, Eddie Marsan, Martin Freeman, Rosamund Pike
Director: Edgar Wright
Rating: 3/5
Edgar Wright, Simon Pegg and Nick Frost have become a great team when it comes to making great films; both Shaun of the Dead and Hot Fuzz were terrific.
So when it was announced that the trio were back with new project The World’s End, I was very excited to see what they were going to do next.
But, as much as it pains me to say it, I am really disappointed with the movie that they have delivered; I would go as far to say that is the most disappointing movie that I have seen so far this year.
20 years after attempting an epic pub crawl, five childhood friends reunite when one of them becomes hell-bent on trying the drinking marathon again.
As they attempt to reconcile the past and present, they realise the real struggle is for the future, not just theirs but humankind’s. Reaching The World’s End is the least of their worries.
Don’t get me wrong, this is not the most terrible movie that I have seen all year but it doesn’t quite live up to what we have come to expect from Wright as a director and Wright and Pegg as writers.
The story itself isn’t all that interesting and the script really does lack wit, not to mention laughs; seriously, where it the humour in this film?
Sure, it raises a few smiles but nothing more than that; and that really is more than a little disappointing.
Like most Edgar Wright films he blends genres and The World’s End is science fiction meets action film. There are some great fight moments as Pegg, Frost and co show us what they have got - Frost in particular is fantastic in these moments.
Pegg and Frost have always made a good team and, once again, it is their character’s stories that are the most interesting.
Gary and Andrew perhaps don’t always see eye to eye but they are bound by the bond of friendship; that theme is something that really does drive the film.
It is the cast that really does save this film as there is a real chemistry between Pegg, Frost, Martin Freeman, Eddie Marsan and Paddy Considine. There are some great moments between them and it is clear that they did have a great time making this movie.
One thing that I really liked about this film is that it does tap into something that we can all relate to; the last day of school and the hopes, dreams and aspirations that we all have as we step out into the world.
And while there are good moments, The World’s End didn’t really deliver what I was expecting and hoping it would. I can’t quite put my finger on it, but there was just something a little flat about it.
The World’s End brings the Cornetto series to a close - and there is a great Cornetto reference towards the end of the film - but it doesn’t quite live up to what has gone before.
The World’s End is out now