Tuesday, September 3, 2013

THE WORLD'S END

The World's End

Directed by Edgar Wright
Written by Edgar Wright & Simon Pegg


     Edgar Wright's conclusion to his "Three Colours: Cornetto Trilogy" or "The Blood & Ice Cream Trilogy," The World's End, is as an entertaining and satisfying end to an absolutely must-see series of films. Similar to Shaun of the Dead and Hot Fuzz in tone, humor and delivery, this final action/sci-fi/comedy, is executed with fine editing touches, nostalgic music and choreographed fight and drinking scenes that is nothing short of excellent from these guys. I absolutely love the Dead and Fuzz, and The World's End is a fitting conclusion to these films of middle aged, I mean from late 20s to early 40s, malaise and the pure excitement of different genre and clever appreciations of cinema.
     The World's End takes a place in a small, English town, Newton Haven, much like Hot Fuzz. It deals with a group of old friends that have gone there separate ways since high school and end up reconnecting to finish a quest they did not complete as teens. The epic Golden Mile. A pub crawl that includes 12 pubs and 12 pints. But this is not your typical get together. The group consists of five high school friends and all of them have gone there separate ways. One of them has not gotten out of those dreaded high school days and still lives outside of the corporate world, while the other four have gone on to successful careers and lives, for the most part. In this small town, there is more than meets the eye, when, much like the zombies in Shaun of the Dead, the group realizes that the towns citizens are not actually human, but blue-blooded robots, that are looking to take over the community and planet.
     The ring leader of this group of old friends is Gary King (Simon Pegg), a 40-year-old man that has not grown out of his partying days as a youth. He travels around London and talks and persuades the four members of his lost days into taking on the Golden Mile for old times sakes. When they were 18, they tried it and failed. The rest of the friends have moved on and are reluctant at first, but eventually cave and go on this trip. Gary has not grown up like the rest of them and lives in a world void of restriction's and responsibilities, but also in one of never endeing immaturity and nostalgia. 
     Wright brought together, has with all of these films, a tremendous cast and the four friends could not have been cast better. Oliver Chamberlain (Martin Freeman), Steven Prince (Paddy Considine), Peter Page (Eddie Marsan) and Andy Knighley (Nick Frost) all, reluctantly go back to Newton Haven to go on this Golden Mile. There chemistry in this film is spot on and delivers at every moment. They, and not to give out plot points, suffice it to say, realize Gary is still a lying bastard and has not persuaded them on going on this trip with any form of honesty. The real terror is that the town is not safe. Much like in Hot Fuzz, the town has put on a facade and really is a group of blue blooded robots that you either join, or die. There is great action, a plethora of 80s and 90s English pop music, and an exceptionally well used "Alabama Song (Whiskey Bar)" from The Doors, and ironic laughs throughout. I also love the fact the dry, British humor is very clever and silly, but dished out with a serious tone that makes it all the more funny. Add Rosamund Pike and Bill Nighy, and you have a wonderful, rounded cast.
     I find myself wondering why I like this film and the other two, in this trilogy so much when I completely, for the most part, despise Hollywood comedies. Too stupid, mainstream, over done, from the Hollywood point. But Wright, Pegg and Frost show, yes put Frost in with the other two, who wrote all the films, how clever they are with the jokes and set piece. The action is great, but done in moments where it is good and cleverly choreographed with the script, music and comedy. I enjoy the banter between the friends and how, in all three films, Frost and Pegg go through the ups, downs, and emotional swings of being and becoming friends. I enjoy the British-ness of it all. Oh yeah, there is, much like the other two films, a lot of beer drinking and pub going in this film. Gotta love that.
     Wright is an extremely talented director and writer. He also is one hell of an editor and working with Paul Machliss, they have proven, once again, they know how to put a movie together, before, during and after filming. Wright gets the malaise of being in your 20s, 30s and early 40s and not knowing what you are doing, and putting the most unlikely people in situations where they don't want to be and where they have to grow up to survive. It is nice to see flat-out hilarious comedies done with a little social commentary on becoming an adult and immature growing, somewhat, into the mature. And, the obvious love of films, whether Night of the Living Dead  and Italian zombie films with Shaun of the Dead, Tony Scott stylistic-action films and the Bad Boys II obsession in Hot Fuzz and this one, which contains references to many sci-fi and apocalyptic films, like the The Day the Earth Stood Still, original one, and some Mad Max.
     These guys, Wright, Pegg and Frost, have made a glorious finale to their "Cornetto Trilogy" with The World's End. Clever, funny and perfect in its production value. All of the films this group has made have not been disappointing at all and get better with every viewing. Time and place or excellent and their love of film and film history is fun to be displayed in the writing and acting. I hope this is not the end of these films from these guys. I hope it never was meant to be a trilogy, but keeps on going with ten more films. Each film depicting a new genre and new commentary on life and getting older. If it is the end of this set of films though, it ends with satisfying results. And dammit, this movie will make you want a beer! Cheers!

Credit IMDB.

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