It's time for a sad farewell to the last instalment of the oh-so-famous 'Three Flavours Cornetto Trilogy'—written by Edgar Wright and Simon Pegg, starring Pegg and Nick Frost, along with the copious amount of familiar faces.
It all begin with strawberry (red), as Shaun fights the undead to save his family, friends and relationship during a zombie outbreak. The romzomcom (romantic zombie comedy), Shaun of the Dead, plays a tribute to classic zombie films particularly the works of George A. Romero and Sam Raimi. Then it moved on to vanilla (blue), where an anal-retentive London police officer investigates a series of mysterious deaths in a small town with his newly appointed childish partner. Hot Fuzz, similar to its preceder, plays a form of homage to action—particularly Hollywood—movies like Bad Boys and Point Break. Now, the makers of these two fantastic films have moved on to give the world: mint (green), better known as The World's End coming out to Australian cinemas on August 1st. The story follows five childhood friends (or more fittingly, mates) whom drifted apart after high school graduation and begin to live their own lives. That is until Gary King (Simon Pegg) convene the group to go back to their hometown of Newton Haven and finish a pub crawl that they have designed in High School. Though all things are not as it seems, and The World's End has its own twist and tricks up its sleeves that Wright have tried to keep on the down low as much as possible. The new film brings to light various motives from perpetual adolescence and old grievances to the consolation of life. Since Shaun of the Dead was about getting responsibility and taking control of your life, and Hot Fuzz was about caring about the people in your personal life and not just focussing on the job, The World's End explores both of these themes merging them together. King's (Pegg) journey in taking responsibility and stop living in the past, and his mates' realisation of how important the past was in shaping the present them. And whether there is a possibility to grow up without growing old.
An encapsulation of themes from the first two instalment are expected by fans, and it does not disappoint. Director Edgar Wright, had successfully brought in the old crew to make a fantastically entertaining and bitter ending for audience. Wright's editing niche of the distinctive slam-bang-transitions and subtle humorous pop culture references, brought the essence of Shaun of the Dead and Hot Fuzz together. Let's not forget, the iconic fence-jumping scenes. Zombie, crime-action and science fiction: Wright, Pegg and Frost had done the ultimate trilogy of British satirical fun in providing a choppy and sharp-shift fighting scenes different from contemporary Hollywood action films. Seeing Pegg, Frost, Martin Freeman, Rosamund Pike, Paddy Considine and Eddie Marsan kicking arse in fighting alien robots in hopes of finishing 'the golden mile' is as entertaining as it can get. The World's End is more than just an end-of-the-world survival movie, nor it is a bros-reliving-the-past movie like Hot Tub Time Machine. It is definitely a must-see summer flick particular those who have been following Wright, Pegg and Frost's work since Spaced.
8.5/10
NOTE: I may or may not make a post about the Q&A with Edgar Wright, Simon Pegg & Nick Frost that might also include an interview my friend and I did with Edgar Wright. While also telling the story how my friend creeped Nick Frost out in the elevator. Should I?
