in his life. Of course, throughout the course of the film we find that working mindless jobs in London is no more fulfilling than drunkenly blundering through life in the smaller and quieter Newton Haven. The metaphor is then compounded and driven home by the presence of “blank villagers” replaced by an alien consciousness. While “The World’s End” doesn’t have quite the same amount of charm found in “Shaun of the Dead” (neither did “Hot Fuzz,” for that matter), it is still better
by leaps and bounds than any comedy released this summer. Wright creates characters that are believable and honest, not caricatures or stereotypes. The characters have plausible reactions to their extraordinary circumstances, like concern and worry rather than snark and sarcasm. Of particular note is Nick Frost, a familiar face from the past films, cast here as the straight man. He and Pegg have essentially switched roles
from “Shaun of the Dead” and Frost carries the part well, showing quite a bit of range. The film clips along a good pace, gaining a good amount of traction before the first alien creature makes an appearance. Part of me would have enjoyed seeing the action of the film without the sci-fi angle—there’s more than enough dramatic and comedic material to flesh out the film without it. But it’s the themes of hollowness that intrigue me more than the juvenile jokes about pub crawls and debauchery (although those are certainly welcome when applied so intelligently). The fears found in American culture are wildly over represented in the enter tainment industry. We are afraid of sex and violence, of conspiracies and foreigners. This film is all about fearing the person we are and the person we may end up becoming. It’s fairly serious subject matter for an unserious movie. Obviously, Hollywood films are going to cater to American audiences by representing their values and personas on screen. But films like “The World’s End” open me up to different experiences and ideas, even if it’s only on a minor level. Here’s hoping that Wright and Penn continue making films like these.
BARNETT & COMPANY MASTERWORKS SERIES
THE PLANETS
September 26, 2013 at 7:30pm Tivoli Theatre Kayoko Dan, conductor
Tickets start at $19 423.267.8583 • www.chattanoogasymphony.org *Video provided by Video Ideas Productions, Inc.
chattanoogapulse.com • september 19-25, 2013 • The Pulse • 31