sci-fi flick falls flat
Camera Iconsci-fi flick falls flat Credit: Supplied/Supplied

End with a whimper

Staff ReporterEastern Reporter

The science fiction comedy tries to combine the best elements of its successors ” the fast-paced dialogue and cinematography of Hot Fuzz and the dystopia parody narrative of Shaun of the Dead ” but fails.

The World’s End is about four middle-aged former high school friends reuniting to tackle the ‘golden mile’ of pubs in their hometown prompted by group leader and dropkick Gary King, played by Simon Pegg, only to discover the town has been taken over by an alien race of robots.

With groan-worthy predictable twists and King as an unlikable anti-hero, The World’s End lacks the subtle brilliance of director and co-writer Edgar Wright’s previous two creations.

While the script is still jam packed with hilarious one liners and supported by a great cast, with outstanding performances from Hot Fuzz star Paddy Considine and Eddie Marsan, it seems Wright should have relied more on his actors rather than CGI.

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The saviour of the movie is Nick Frost’s character Andy, King’s former wing man, and the other friend’s backstories and reactions to coming home.

However, these stories are touched on only briefly and an awkward, unrealistic ending poorly attempting to come full circle is crammed in.

Wright’s effort to branch out from his successful film formula has ended in a mutant movie that lacks the great narrative of his previous works but keeps their bell and whistles and while it entertains, it never excels.