Film review: The World’s End (7 out of 10)
True, it doesn’t reach the dizzy heights of Shaun of the Dead, but Wright must have realised that he struck gold first time and everything afterwards was possibly going to fall short.
The joy of The World’s End is seeing just how far Simon Pegg and Nick Frost have progressed as actors. Both look far more at ease in front of the camera and Frost is very comfortable in a role that requires much more of him than just a bumbling companion.
Advertisement
Hide AdAdvertisement
Hide AdWhile The World’s End doesn’t knock Shaun of the Dead off top spot in the trilogy, it definitely moves above Hot Fuzz.
The story sees Gary King (Pegg) rallying together his former school mates to take part in a pub crawl round their old home town. They tried 20 years before but failed.
However, the town has changed, with the residents acting strangely, and as the five former schoolfriends move from pub to pub they realise there are some dark forces at work.
We have Martin Freeman, Eddie Marsen and Paddy Considine joining Pegg and Frost as the friends so there’s no stinting in the skill factor.
Advertisement
Hide AdAdvertisement
Hide AdThere’s also a veritable host of top acting talent in cameos (Pierce Brosnan, Mark Heap, Bill Nighy, Michael Smiley and a few seconds of Rafe Spall).
The problem with this film is that it does take a while to get going and most of the good jokes depend on the amount of alcohol taken by the characters.
The budget has obviously increased since the ‘Shaun...’ days and there are some good CGI moments.
But the strength of the movie was always going to be with the main characters and while Freeman, Considine and Marsen have their moments, it’s still down to Pegg and Frost to drive the film forward.
Advertisement
Hide AdAdvertisement
Hide AdOverall, a slightly patchy but fun film to round off the ‘Cornetto’ trilogy (look out for the particularly poignant Cornetto moment in this movie).
Film details:
The World’s End (15) 109mins
Director: Edgar Wright
Screening courtesy of Cineworld Crawley
Steve Payne