The Film
Edgar Wright has made a name for himself in the world of film, but there are two cult classics that really stand out on his impressive resume. The 2004 rom-zom-com Shaun of the Dead and 2007's Hot Fuzz were the first two entries into the director's beloved "Three Flavours Cornetto" trilogy. Now he's bringing it all to a smashing end with The World's End, one of the most underrated films of the year.
If you've seen either of the previous films (and you should really do that), you'll know what you're in for here. The film is oozing with visual treats, a bit of gore and rapid-fire laughs. However, instead of zombies and murders, this film has Simon Pegg, Nick Frost and a slew of Wright's other regulars in a town that's been overrun by aliens that look and act like robots. It's sort of like The Big Chill meets Invasion of the Body Snatchers, and it's insanely entertaining.
Pegg plays Gary King, the former ringleader of an eclectic group of childhood friends. Now that he's staring 40 in the face, Gary has become hell-bent on getting back together with the group, because apparently they have some unfinished business -- drinking business. Back when the five were kids, they went on the pub-crawl to end all pub-crawls, but just couldn't quite make it to the very end. Now, he wants to "get the band back together" to tackle the 12 pubs of "The Golden Mile" and make it all the way to the last stop, known as "The World's End."
So for the film's first 35 minutes or so, Gary hits up "The Five Musketeers" for a night to remember. There's the yuppy-esque real-estate agent Oliver (Martin Freeman), car salesman Peter (Eddie Marsan), construction boss Steven (Paddy Considine) and lawyer Andrew (Frost), all of which Gary convinces to revisit the group's hometown of Newton Haven for the perfect pub-crawl. Once inside the fourth pub of the night, Gary discovers that the town isn't quite what they remember. It's actually now inhabited by robots. Well, maybe they're aliens. Maybe they're alien-ish robots. The whole thing is a bit hazy, and the alcohol certainly isn't helping.
And while the crew tries to survive the night, they keep on drinking -- and it's awesome.
Don't be fooled into thinking that The World's End is just another apocalypse movie. Well, in some ways, it is. However, it's a really good apocalypse movie. Unfortunately, its summer release was eclipsed by This is the End, which left it to be lumped in with Rapture-Palooza. That's the only reasonable explanation as to why its not the most successful of the Cornetto trilogy. It's a fitting end and a lot fun.
The Picture
This may not be Simon Pegg's best look (he's extra greasy in Blu-ray!), but The World's End is one good looking flick. The beer glistens, the facial hair is prominent, and the "blood" is a very bright blue. The 2.35:1 image is a sharp one, even when the image is dark and the action is hectic. Of course, the close-ups are most impressive, with wrinkles, dirt, pores and other facial attributes on full display. The colors are also spot-on, with that beer so tasty looking, you'll want to reach out and grab a pint.
The Sound
Like the other entries in the Cornetto trilogy, The World's End uses its DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 mix to the max. It's very heavy on dialogue, which is always rapid, but also clear. However, the surround sound is really the most impressive part here. Most comedies don't bother too much with filling the entire soundfield, but Edgar Wright's films go beyond the average comedy. Audio plays a really important part here, whether it's the ambient sounds of the flickering bathroom lights, the booming club music at The Mermaid, a flashback from The Soup Dragons, or explosions and the overall apocalypse. Oh, and wait until you get a load of the rush that comes with every beer pour. It's a really fun track.
The Extras
It's impressive that the release doesn't just have one commentary track, but three, which should deliver everything and anything you'd want to know about the movie and pretty much everything else. The feature commentary has Wright and co-writer/star Simon Pegg giving the most comprehensive track, while another has Wright and Director of Photography Bill Pope talking up the film's technical points. The last commentary track has Pegg sitting down with co-stars Nick Frost and Paddy Considine for a less formal (but extremely entertaining) discussion.
If you don't want to bother with commentary, there's also a two-part, 48-minute making-of featurette that's a must-see. It has interviews with Wright and the entire principal cast. However, it's got more personality and more interesting tidbits than the typical making-of piece. It makes the writing process, the influence of sci-fi on the film, and the cast all seem interesting and fun. Even better, it's got plenty of behind-the-scenes glimpses at the production, as well as a peek at some of the pint-slamming.
Final Thoughts
If the Cornetto series is truly coming to an end, The World's End is a good way to go out. The film is stylish, hilarious and even a little scary at times. It's also sort of an interesting take on the Bodysnatchers theme, but with Edgar Wright's unique approach. Also, the pairing of Simon Pegg and Nick Frost make this worth the purchase price alone. The two really are one of the most entertaining film duos. The Blu-ray is the foam on the pint here, with a sharp image, a super-fun soundtrack and a stunning amount of extras. It's amazing how few saw this film in theaters. Now you have no excuse. As Martin Freeman's "O-Man" would say, "WTF?"
Product Details
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