REVIEW: The World's End

The World's End

Director: Edgar Wright

Written By: Edgar Wright & Simon Pegg

Lead Cast: Simon Pegg, Nick Frost, Paddy Considine, Eddie Marsan, Martin Freeman

Running Time: 109 Minutes

BBFC Rating: 15

With six years having passed since Hot Fuzz, the dream team of Edgar Wright, Simon Pegg & Nick Frost are back with the third and final part of their much loved Three Flavours Cornetto trilogy, The World's End. The plot follows Pegg's Gary King, as he reunites his childhood friends (played by Nick Frost, Paddy Considine, Martin Freeman and Eddie Marsan) to try and complete the pub crawl they failed 20 years ago. And if you had to do a double take at that lead cast, then I'm not surprised. These are five of the finest working comic actors in Britain today, and even if the film was just them drinking and laughing together it'd still probably end out better than 90% of the films released this year. But, of course, there's more to this fateful pub crawl then first meets the eye as they begin to realise something is slightly off back in their hometown of Newton-Haven.

One of the most interesting choices made with The World's End is to switch up the lead chemistry used previously in the trilogy. Unlike both Shaun Of The Dead and Hot Fuzz, Pegg plays the most eccentric character of the cast with Frost playing the straight man instead. In fact, all four of the other leads play the straight men as they try to put up with the Pegg's selfish manchild of a character. He's the friend everyone has somewhere in their circle, and it's that link you make so easily that makes him all the worse. And yet, thanks to both a truly wonderful script and one of Pegg's best performances to date he remains a character you not only understand but also sympathise with. This is symbolic of an emotional resonance that is far greater here than in either of the two previous Cornetto films.

While the jokes continue to flow thick and fast as they always have, there are several moments throughout that are surprisingly moving. While many are bound to hit far deeper for those of the same age as the core characters, there are still themes here that anyone can feel a connection with. Eddie Marsan in particular, delivers a moment about 30 minutes in that's almost certain to break your heart. This more touching, human side to the film, while certainly not expected, is a more than welcome addition that only displays further why the pairing of Wright & Pegg have written some of the most loved British films of the past decade.

But just because this has a more human edge to it than their previous two collaborations, that doesn't mean this feels any less of a Cornetto film. Running jokes are continued, much to the delight of pretty much everyone in the screening I was at, while almost every familiar face from the past two films pops up as a cameo in some way or another. Oh, and of course as it's an Edgar Wright film, the soundtrack ranks up as one of the best around. It's these familiar touches that go to remind us that, even though all three of them have moved onto far bigger projects since Shaun of the Dead first released, they still remember what makes these films magical just as well as we do.

Overall, it feels as accomplished a film as it could possibly be, considering the huge expectations there have been building up towards it. There were a lot of things that I felt very unsure about the first time round, but when I gave it a second go just a few hours later I was far happier with the end result. Because what first felt like a disappointment, I came to realise, was actually just subverting my expectations in a very good way. The World's End isn't as immediately loveable as it's spiritual predecessor’s, and it's not necessarily as gut-bustingly funny, but it is a far more human and touching side to the Three Cornettos Trilogy that I believe will more than hold it's own in the many years of special screenings and ITV2 repeats to come.

The Final Verdict:

I doubt that anyone who has any idea what this film is needs convincing to go and see it, but if you're feeling a little disappointed after your first watch then give it another shot. You may just find the film you were hoping for in the end, even if it is delivered in a slightly different package to the one you were expecting.