The World's End (2013)

 

In the final instalment of the affectionately named Cornetto trilogy, Edgar Wright and Simon Pegg take on sci-fi. This time, Pegg plays Gary King, an immature 40-something stuck in the mindset of his youth. He ropes in his childhood friends Andy (Nick Frost), Oliver (Martin Freeman), Peter (Eddie Marsan) and Steven (Paddy Considine), who have all matured, to complete a failed pub crawl from their teenage years.

Shaun of the Dead was a bonkers parody of George Romero's horror classics. Hot Fuzz was a ridiculous take on old American buddy cop movies. Fans of these will be pleased to know that The World's End continues exactly where they took off.

Strangely, after the release of Hot Fuzz, both Simon Pegg and Nick Frost began making a name for themselves in sci-fi comedy, perhaps foreshadowing the genre of The World's End. However, whilst both Paul (Pegg & Frost) and Attack The Block (Frost) are decent films in their own right, it wasn't until the return of director Edgar Wright when they found their groove again.

With nine years passing since Shaun of the Dead's release, both Edgar Wright and Simon Pegg have aged, and the start of the movie reflects that as it skirts dangerously close to the apologetic silliness of The Hangover sequels.

However, once the characters are settled and the maturity dissipates, the sci-fi element is introduced and the expected exaggerated laughs and snarky satirical one-liners are aplenty.

Interestingly, Pegg and Frost switch roles in this film, with Frost playing the straight man and Pegg taking on the slightly unhinged friend, showcasing Frost's versatility in particular.

The World's End is a truly fitting conclusion to what must be considered one of the greatest comedy trilogies of all time.

4 stars