And here we find ourselves at the end. So it's only fitting that I finish my summer reviews with two films about the end: This is the End (Dir. Evan Goldberg, Seth Rogen) and The World's End (Dir. Edgar Wright).
The film has some hilarious moments. The scenes at James Franco's party are ridiculous in a good way. There are so many famous faces doing all the sorts of things you think would happen at a James Franco party, and more than a few that will surprise you. The relationship between the group of survivors is both endearing and highly dysfunctional. Danny McBride's character is a wonderful antagonist and provides some great opportunities for the other actors to play against him. Those familiar with the actors' previous work will enjoy the many digs made at past projects, as well as some nostalgia.
Overall I recommend this film for the ridiculous factor. It's full of crude jokes and likes to takes things too far at times, but the relationship between the characters ties the film together making it an enjoyable watch.
The World's End is the third film from the Edgar Wright/Simon Pegg duo who brought you Shaun of the Dead and Hot Fuzz. The film stars Simon Pegg as Gary King, a drug addict who hasn't been able to let go of his high school glory, nor his desire to finish the epic pub crawl he and a group of friends attempted in their hometown twenty years earlier. Using charm and manipulation he manages to bring them all back together for one more try. Nick Frost, Martin Freeman, Eddie Marsan and Paddy Considine star as Gary's former friends who don't like him very much anymore. As the pub crawl goes on, they begin to realize that something is wrong with the town, and they are forced to fight for their survival while trying to get to the final pub, The World's End.
I had expected to enjoy this film more than This is the End having seen and loved Shaun of the Dead and Hot Fuzz. Unfortunately this film tried too hard to bring the humour from the previous films to the extent that it just recycled all the old jokes. Pegg's Gary was an unlikeable character who didn't really have much of an arc. The relationship between the five main characters lacked any charisma so that by the time they get to liking each other again it was too late. Rosemund Pike's Sam Chamberlain provided the one and only female of the group. She got to hold her own in a bar fight but, like Emma Watson in This is the End, seemed like an add-on character. There were some funny moments but all in all it felt like a movie we'd seen before with nothing new added.
I have to add here that the film got a 90% on Rotten Tomatoes so I am officially throwing my hands up and surrendering to the summer. When Man of Steel gets at 56% rating and this film a 90% I know for sure that the world has completely lost it.
Goodbye summer films, I wish I could say it's been fun...