Film Review: The World’s End

The World’s End is a sufficiently enjoyable comedy romp. Although it is entertaining, it is unlikely that the film will have a lasting impact.

As young adults, Gary King had his mates attempt to complete a twelve pub crawl in their home town. Twenty years later, Gary is determined to finish the pub crawl with his old friends, but it may not be a straightforward task…

Edgar Wright’s latest film is something of a genre flip. The World’s End begins as a comedy, before introducing elements of other genres. It does, however, retain the humour.

Comedy is frequent and successfully generates laughter. Nevertheless, it is a juvenile style of humour that is employed in The World’s End. It works, although it may not satisfy all viewers. Some of the moments of reflection or drama are not as effective as when Wright and co-writer Simon Pegg are aiming for a laugh.

With Wright, Pegg and Nick Frost, there is a sense of déjà vu. This is especially the case given the other generic elements at play. The trio keep things reasonably fresh with amusing characters, even if the formula is getting a bit stale. The World’s End is stereotypically a boys film. This does not mean that female will not enjoy it, but just that it appears to be catering for male viewers.

The theme of reliving youth and the sense of promise at that age is high on the agenda. It is something that those who remember the soundtrack will most likely relate to. With frequent references to selective memory, The World’s End does seem to aim at making a point, but it never really gets there.

The film features a great soundtrack teeming with British bands from the 1990s. Production values are good, particularly the styling of the flashback sequences. Performances from the cast are good, particularly Eddie Marsan in a supporting role.

The World’s End should satisfy viewers looking for some laughs. An entertaining film, but not a smart or memorable one.

Stuff To Look At

Posters galore this week! Disney’s animated short Get a Horse gets a screening, a trailer for Meet The Millers, a clip from The Heat and more…

Get a Horse

Mickey Mouse is back! Well, kind of. On Tuesday 11th June 2013 Disney unveil the never-before seen animated short Get a Horse. The hand-drawn short features Mickey Mouse and the voice of Walt Disney. It is being screened at Annecy Animation Festival in France, no word yet on if Get a Horse will become available widely.

The Heat

Sandra Bullock’s character has some uncomfortable questions to answer in this clip from upcoming buddy cop movie The Heat. Also starring Melissa McCarthy, the film is director Paul Feig’s follow up to Bridesmaids. The Heat is released in UK cinemas on 31st July 2013.

Planes

Here is the latest poster for Planes, the upcoming animated feature from Disney. The trailer for the film can be viewed here. Planes is being advertised as from ‘above the world of Cars‘, and the parallels between the films are clear. Planes hits UK cinemas on 16th August 2013.

We’re The Millers

We’re The Millers reunites Jason Sudeikis and Jennifer Aniston in a new comedy. Jennifer Aniston is certainly ageing well. We’re The Millers, which also stars Emma Roberts and Will Poulter, is released in the UK on 23rd August 2013.

The World’s End

Here is one of the newly-released character poster for The World’s End. The film reunites director Edgar Wright with stars Simon Pegg and Nick Frost. The film also stars Martin Freeman and Rosamund Pike. The World’s End hits UK screens on 19th July 2013.

Stuff To Look At

Plenty of movie stuffs this week, including the latest Man of Steel TV spot, Disney’s Big Hero 6, the Coen Brothers’ latest and a Herzog re-release…

Man of Steel

Here is the new Man of Steel TV spot. Although the film looks exciting, the TV spot fails to answer the question everyone is asking; is Gus Gorman in this latest Superman film? Really, that’s what we want to know. Man of Steel, with or without Gus Gorman, is released in UK cinemas on 14th June 2013.

Big Hero 6

Here is the first look at Disney Animation’s Big Hero 6. I want to live in San Fransokyo, it looks amazing! The film is about a robotics prodigy who finds himself in the grips of  criminal plot that threatens the city. Big Hero 6 is due for release in the US on 7th November 2014.

Inside Llewyn Davis

Ethan and Joel Coen’s Inside Llewyn Davis is about a young folk singer in 1960s New York. The film stars Oscar Isaac, Carey Mulligan and Justin Timberlake. But who knows, the breakout star may be the cat in the first seen in this trailer. Inside Llewyn Davis is due for release in UK cinemas on 24th January 2014.

The World’s End

Edgar Wright’s latest offering is The World’s End, starring past collaborators Simon Pegg and Nick Frost. The film seems like exactly what one would expect from the trio; comedy and some very strange shenanigans. The World’s End hits UK screens on 19th July 2013.

The Internship

The Internship reunites Owen Wilson and Vince Vaughn. The comedy is about two advertising salesmen who start an internship at Google. The trailer reminds me of that episode of Friends where Chandler starts an internship at an ad agency and he’s so much older than the rest of the interns. The Internship is out in UK cinemas on 4th July 2013.

About Time

Here is the first trailer for Richard Curtis’ latest film, About Time. The comedy stars Bill Nighy, Rachel McAdams and Domhall Gleeson. I’m getting Groundhog Day vibes from the trailer, although I think the film is going to weigh heavy on the whole consequences theme. About Time is released in UK cinemas on 6th September 2013.

Aguirre, Wrath of God

I wish Werner Herzog was narrating this trailer. Werner Herzog should narrate everything. Anyway, the director’s 1972 film Aguirre, Wrath of God gets a re-release as part of the BFI’s retrospective of Herzog in June. Aguirre, Wrath of God will be screened at the BFI and selected UK venues from 7th June 2013.

Film Review: Attack the Block

Alien invasion films are often grand in scale and set against an ostentatious backdrop. Attack the Block takes place on a council estate near Stockwell. Despite this, the movie shares many of the same conventions as its more glamorous predecessors.

On the same night that Moses and his gang of teens mug a young nurse on her way home, something strange falls from the sky. Moses kills the strange creature and returns with his friends to their south London council estate. Before they get home, the gang are interrupted by something that is attacking the block…

After a slow start, Attack the Block is plenty of fun once it gets going. Joe Cornish’s film follows a general invasion movie plot, adapting it to suit the setting. The film adheres to many of the conventions of this genre; not all the characters make it to the finale, for example. The characters are archetypal, with the unlikely hero, comedy sidekick and the innocent bystander caught in a usual situation.

The unlikely heroes of Attack the Block are a gang of teenage muggers. While unlikely heroes are commonplace in this type of movie, Cornish takes it a step beyond in asking viewers to empathise with and support these characters. The nature of the crime at the beginning of the film makes it difficult. These are not desperate teens committing crimes under duress. Rather, they are a group of teenage boys who pick on a single unarmed woman with the sole purpose of taking her valuables. Therefore, it is difficult to obtain a sense of affiliation with these characters, and to care too much about their plight later in the movie.

Cornish’s film is clearly a homage to earlier science-fiction/monster movies. Attack the Block can be quite gory at times, although these incidents are usually short lived. The method of dispatching the creatures certainly harks back to 1984’s Gremlins, among other films. The soundtrack is in keeping with the urban setting, and works well to generate atmosphere.

John Boyega is an adequate anti-hero as Moses. The young actor lacks conviction at times, but this is forgivable considering his lack of experience. Nick Frost brings humour in a small role, as does Luke Treadaway; the most amusing character in the film. Other performances are fairly good overall.

Attack the Block might mostly be appreciated by teens the same age as the protagonists. Sci-fi fans may find amusement in the references, while other viewers are likely to find the film entertaining, if not exactly captivating. It does not quite live up to the hype, but Attack the Block is enjoyable enough.

Film Review: Paul

Zombies and serial killers overcome, Simon Pegg and Nick Frost’s latest adventure sees them encounter extra-terrestrial life. Paul is genuinely good fun, and a suitable tribute to the science fiction films that Pegg and Frost obviously love so much.

British sci-fi geeks Graeme and Clive embark on a road trip across America, visiting famous UFO sites. When they encounter a real alien called Paul, the friends decide to help him with his mission. Graeme, Clive and Paul are in peril as those chasing the alien edge closer…

The mix of comedy and action adventure works incredibly well in Paul. The tone is never too serious; dramatic moments are usually disrupted by a joke. While the film is certainly tongue-in-cheek, director Greg Mottola provides the momentum that allows Paul to function effectively as a sci-fi action film. The tone is buoyant; the film keeps a steady pace throughout.

Paul has a more polished feel than Hot Fuzz and Shawn of the Dead. Although a few rough edges is sometimes a good thing, in the case of these films Paul is a more attractive option than Pegg and Frost’s previous collaborations. Both Hot Fuzz and Shawn of the Dead were a little patchy in places. Thankfully Paul is better executed than this. The humour works, though some audience members may find it a little immature. Nonetheless, most cinemagoers will know what to expect from the duo.

Pegg and Frost are obviously big science fiction fans, this shines through in Paul. The film features numerous references to sci-fi films and culture, most of which are sufficiently mainstream to be understood by a wide audience. In particular, Paul functions as a homage to science-fiction films of the 1980s. These films have clearly had a profound affect on Pegg and Frost (who also wrote the film), the overt references made to Steven Spielberg indicate this.

Simon Pegg and Nick Frost play geeks in the film, characters that do not appear too far removed from their actual personalities. Both are lively and energetic, but definitely in their comfort zone. Seth Rogen voices Paul with his usual slacker sensibilities, while Kristen Wiig is great but a little underused as Ruth. Sigourney Weaver joins in the fun, playfully parodying the genre that made her a star.

David Arnold’s soundtrack is great, with more than a nod to John Williams’ classic E.T. score. Overall, Paul is highly enjoyable, especially for sci-fi fans and those nostalgic for the Spielbergian oeuvre.