The World's End

Common opinion would have it that The World’s End is the weakest film of Edgar Wright’s Three Flavours Cornetto Trilogy - also including Shaun of the Dead and Hot Fuzz - but do not let collective opinion fool you: The World’s End is just as good - and dare I say even better - than its predecessors. Following the alcoholic Gary King as he brazenly reunites his four childhood friends to participate in a legendary pub crawl, The World’s End itself reunites the triple threat of Simon Pegg, Nick Frost, and Wright. Like the previous two films in the trilogy, Wright’s directorial style is sharp while - with Pegg - his script is laced with wit and pandemonium. However, the film’s narrative is also softly touching; King is arguably the trilogy’s most sympathetic and emotionally resonant protagonist, as Wright and Pegg explore the nature of aging and maturation. Furthermore, the film’s wealth of experienced actors - including Rosamund Pike and Martin Freeman - help to sell the film’s drama alongside its humorous qualities. Where Shaun of the Dead and Hot Fuzz perhaps trump The World’s End is in the latter’s ending; both previous films are equally absurd but in a more restrained manner, whereas the ending of The World’s End does take some swallowing. However, for fans of Wright’s frenzied directorial and narrative style, The World’s End is a perfect end to his defining trilogy, and even for those who are more reticent, it is an underrated film that is deserving of more appreciation on this term’s schedule.

Sam Ripley

Directed by Edgar Wright (Scott Pilgrim vs. The World), The World’s End sees the final film in Wright’s unofficial Cornetto trilogy (also known as the Blood and Ice Cream trilogy), following Shaun of the Dead (2004) and Hot Fuzz (2007). The World’s End tells the story of a group of friends who discover an alien invasion in their home town whilst attempting the Golden Mile. The challenge: a 12 pints pub crawl of the town’s 12 pubs ending with The Golden Mile; a challenge left incomplete after the group attempted when younger.

Gary (Simon Pegg), who is broke, single, in therapy and still driving the same car as he was in high school, in an attempt to relive the glory of days of being younger, suggests a second shot at the Golden Mile. But this takes some persuasion as his friends on the other hand now all have families and responsibilities. Although initially reluctant, they eventually give in to Gary's overwhelming enthusiasm.

Sticking to the tried and tested formula of the previous two films, though this time aiming their wits at the sci-fi genre, The World’s End is a brilliant comedy, in which the characters get continually drunker (and funnier) as the story progresses. Although the comedy isn’t suited to all tastes, it is full of true British humour. If you are a fan of the first two in the trilogy, it is certainly worth completing the set. It builds on its predecessors in both scale and character.

Alina Haddad