‘The World’s End’ is a Brilliant Beer-Fueled Adventure

If Edgar Wright and Simon Pegg’s bar-hopping buddy flick The World’s End had a motto, it would be: In cervesia veritas. Just like the Latin expression In vino veritas, their picture is a statement about the truth-revealing power of alcohol. Except instead of imbibing wine like the ancient Romans, these five friends unwittingly find factuality by consuming beer. Delicious brew in The World’s End isn’t just a catalyst for discovering personal truths though, it also helps expose dangerous Earth-shattering secrets.

The film’s story centers on Gary King (Pegg), a drug-addled 40-year-old who has pathetically clung to the peak of his youth: a night he and his chums attempted their town’s ultimate pub crawl. Down on his luck and desperate to relive the time of his life, he cons estranged pals (Nick Frost, Martin Freeman, Eddie Marsan, and Paddy Consadine) into joining him for another go at all 12 bars. After arriving however, they quickly make the horrifying discovery that robots control their town. Realizing that Gary’s team is wise to them, the mechanical men soon give chase, but can these buddies survive long enough to enjoy a pint at the crawl’s final pub, The World’s End?

The World’s End is the third movie in Wright and Pegg’s Cornetto trilogy, which includes “Shaun of the Dead” and “Hot Fuzz.” Although these flicks aren’t interconnected stories, they all feature Cornetto ice cream, Pegg and Frost in main roles, gifted homage, and poignant emphasis on complex friendships. This film is no different; Pegg and Frost play pals frequently at odds and the plot pays glorious tribute to science fiction classics such as “Invasion of the Body Snatchers.” Like other Wright and Pegg pictures, “The World’s End” creates brilliant laughs from snappy banter, beautifully choreographed fight scenes, and the outrageous crisis coping mechanisms its characters.

As Gary, Pegg gives a fascinating performance, accentuated by the unusual manic energy and odd wiry strength he brings to the part. Pegg is also slippery in a way where you can never trust Gary, yet you can’t help wanting to anyway. Frost, who normally plays zanier characters, provides a pleasantly grounded portrayal of Gary’s uptight foil Andy. Freeman, Marsan, and Consadine are also a joy to watch, superbly rounding out this quirky group as the brainy smooth-operator, the timid family man, and the shy nice-guy.

Although beer may be the driver for this booze-fueled adventure, it represents more than that to the characters. The substance signifies a holy grail-like, tasty moment when all is right with the world. In that way, The World’s End is an ode to drinking, emphasized by its intense shots of golden brew, entertaining pub names, and beer-themed lines like, “We’re gonna see this through to the bitter end. Or…lager end.” The film’s celebration of carefree intoxication fits perfectly with Gary’s nostalgia.

Wright and Pegg play up Gary’s wistfulness by using a stylized opening sequence and a soundtrack heavily rooted in the 1990s. Despite their amusement reflecting on the past, they are still careful to express the dangers of nostalgia through the drastic consequences of Gary’s actions. What’s slightly disappointing, is that despite their condemnation of Gary’s behavior, Wright and Pegg ultimately copout and let him off the hook. Perhaps the strangest part of movie is its darkly comedic ending, which is the only part of the film that doesn’t match the rest of the Cornetto trilogy. Still, The World’s End is a fast-paced, chuckle-filled ride so loaded with clever jokes that it’s impossible to notice everything on first viewing. Like Shaun of the Dead and Hot Fuzz, you’ll want to watch it again and again hoping to catch them all.

✭✭✭✭ 1/2