Movie Review: 'The World's End'

by Tommy Lee Edwards

From the moment the 1990's soundtrack kicks in from the start, right through until to the bitter (or lager) end, I loved this.

Anybody that's done a pub crawl will instantly recognise the younger versions of the main characters we see at the start. After an unsuccessful attempt at the 'Golden Mile' - 12 pubs, 12 pints - twenty years later, the school pals (Simon Pegg, Nick Frost, Martin Freeman, Paddy Considine and Eddie Marsan) reluctantly reunite for another crack at the ultimate pub crawl in their home town of Newton Haven. But all is not what it seems in their cosy little town, which soon becomes apparent after a run in with some youths in the gents of one of the pubs!

I think that the script by Edgar Wright and Simon Pegg have got the right blend of comedy and sci-fi with this film, with some really funny moments scattered in amongst the well crafted sci-fi bits. I really enjoyed the previous two films in Edgar Wright's 'Three Colours Cornetto' trilogy, and this one continues by keeping Pegg and Frost's characters at the centre of the film, albeit in the role reversal of Nick Frost's Andrew being the smarter more mature one compared with Simon Pegg's Gary King, and it works wonderfully. I'm also thinking that there is a big love for Primal Scream's 'Loaded', as they do quote the opening line to the song quite a bit. Can't complain too much as I do like it!

With a cracking 90's soundtrack, and if you've enjoyed Edgar's previous work, including 'Scott Pilgrim vs The World' and the TV show 'Spaced' (of which 'The World's End' is as close to a cinematic version you'll probably get) then, like me, you'll get a kick out of watching this film. Go see it if you can!

****½ out of 5