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The World's End poster

CAST
NICK FROST
SIMON PEGG
PADDY CONSIDINE
DAVID BRADLEY
MARTIN FREEMAN
EDDIE MARSAN
ROSAMUND PIKE

WRITTEN BY
SIMON PEGG
EDGAR WRIGHT

PRODUCED BY
TIM BEVAN
ERIC FELLNER
NIRA PARK

DIRECTED BY
EDGAR WRIGHT

GENRE
ACTION
COMEDY
SCIENCE FICTION

RATED
AUS: MA
UK: 15
USA: R

RUNNING TIME
109 MIN

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IMAGES
MOVIE POSTERS
TRAILERS & CLIPS

THE WORLD’S END (2013)

Concluding their “”Cornetto trilogy” with a rousing tribute to the sci-fi genre, The World’s End has director Edgar Wright and his merry band of cohorts raise their beer mugs in toast to the intrinsic human right of free-will in entertaining fashion.

When comparing the three films birthed from the Wright-Simon Pegg-Nick Frost trinity (Shaun of the Dead, Hot Fuzz and The World’s End) a familiar theme crops up: freedom. Whether it be threatened by supernatural force or vast conspiracy, the need to break from the shackles of conformity is a driving force in these wildly entertaining movies upon which The World’s End reigns.

It’s story centres on Gary King (Pegg) the trench coat clad cool guy from Newton High school, who 20 years after attempting a legendary pub-crawl (12 pubs, 12 pints) reunites his high school gang (Nick Frost, Martin Freeman, Paddy Considine and Eddie Marsan) to once again try their hand (and livers) at “The Golden Mile”, only for their hometown inhabitants to reveal themselves as something other than human and put a damper on their reunion.

Much like Shaun of the Dead and Hot Fuzz before it, The World’s End is filled with nods to genre classics with science fiction getting the love (especially Village of the Damned and Invasion of the Body Snatchers). Yet so strong is Wright’s style and energy that The World’s End transcends tribute and becomes a stand-alone addition, where classic sci-fi tropes blend with rambunctious fight choreography (affectionately labelled “pub-fu” by Pegg) along with a witty and touching story about letting go of the past while fighting for the now.

A cast of familiar faces give great performances. Pegg is excellent at playing an immature ass whose ego is only matched by his love of beer, Frost owns the fight sequences where he rampages like the Hulk, and Eddie Marsan is especially enjoyable in a much lighter role compared to his usual heavies.

What resonates the most about The World’s End is that theme of free-will in the spirit of these characters who fight for their right to freedom when up against impossible odds. Wright could have rested solely on the same formula that made the previous flavours in his Cornetto trilogy so tasty, yet a final soliloquy adds depth to the comedic mayhem. If this is the end for the Pegg-Frost-Wright trio, than it is the perfect way to go out: with a beer in one hand, and a raised finger on the other.

****

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