Tag Archives: technology

The World’s End

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worlds end

Director: Edgar Wright

Writer: Simon Pegg, Edgar Wright

Starring:  Simon Pegg, Nick Frost, Martin Freeman, Paddy Considine, Eddie Marsan, Rosamund Pike

Tomatometer: 90/88/80 (all critics, top critics, audience)

Spoiler-free Summary: Gary King is a drunk man-child.  His happiest memory involves a somewhat legendary, yet unfinished, pub crawl that took place 20 years earlier.  In an attempt to recapture his glory days, Gary rounds up his four former mates for a second stab at the “Golden Mile”.

Two Cents: There are two types of comedies in Hollywood.  Most comedies fall into the lowbrow bin (Happy Gilmore, Old School, Caddyshack, etc.).  A few can be considered highbrow (just about anything from the Coen brothers, Wes Anderson, or Woody Allen).  Somehow, Simon Pegg and Edgar Wright have managed to carve out a third category – hybrow, a hybrid of the two brows.  I could have gone with “unibrow“, but that’s already taken.

Sure, if we discussed it for a few minutes, we’d come up with a few other films that could be considered a perfect cross between low and highbrow humor, but I’d argue that most of those films, more likely, are either low-end highbrow or high-end lowbrow.  In the interest of saving time, let’s get back to the task at hand.

It takes a true genius to turn a debaucherous pub crawl into a piercing look at middle age.  Luckily, this movie had a few geniuses pulling its strings.  Simon Pegg is probably most recognizable for his supporting role in the two most recent Star Trek movies and the last two Mission: Impossible installments.  However, that’s just a watered-down and Hollywoodified version of the British actor.  The real Pegg only comes out to play when he’s teamed up with his pals Edgar Wright and Nick Frost.  In three films together, this trio has reached a level of writer-director-actor chemistry that is extremely rare in today’s Hollywood landscape.  DiCaprio and Scorsese have it, Burton and Depp have it, but there aren’t many others.  (Note: Technically, The World’s End is part of a trilogy, which also includes Shaun of the Dead  and Hot Fuzz, but each of the three movies can stand firmly on its own.  I prefer to look at them as separate films, simply because I want more!)

No matter what ridiculous scenes might show up in a script, the most humorous part of any comedy is its dialogue.  If the dialogue doesn’t feel natural and witty, a comedy has no chance at being truly funny.  Dialogue is what separates a movie from a YouTube clip.  The World’s End is oozing with clever and hilarious lines layered with boatloads of subtext, the mark of truly gifted writers.  Still, the movie never gets bogged down in being funny.  The 12 pubs on the crawl serve as a spectacular device for briskly moving the story forward and creating believable opportunities for the introduction of supporting characters.

I don’t want to give away any plot points, so I’ll keep this review brief.  The acting is great, the jokes are top-notch, and there’s even a surprise visit from Bill Nighy’s voice.  What more could you want?

Should I/Shouldn’t I: You may feel ill-equipped to watch The World’s End, if you haven’t yet seen Shaun and Fuzz.  Rest assured, that won’t make much of a difference.  If you’ve been waiting for a truly funny comedy that doesn’t rely exclusively on “toilet humor” and the f-word, but still makes you long for your teenage years, this is it.  

Sundae Rating: Two scoops with whipped cream

Disconnect

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disconnect

Director: Henry Alex Rubin

Writer: Andrew Stern

Starring: Jason Bateman, Hope Davis, Frank Grillo, Paula Patton, Andrea Riseborough, Alexander Skarsgård, Max Thieriot, Colin Ford, Jonah Bobo

Tomatometer: 71/71/83 (all critics, top critics, audience)

Spoiler-free Summary: People of all ages reach out to strangers over the Internet, as they struggle to connect with the people in their lives.  In one story arc, a couple of douchebag teenagers bully a third over Facebook.  In another, an estranged couple, dealing with the loss of a child, has their identity stolen.  In the final arc, a webcam model contemplates the possible ramifications for participating in a televised interview about his profession.

Two Cents: The most important lesson you can possibly learn during your time on this planet: If you receive a friend request on Facebook from a person whose profile picture shows a sexy, half-nude girl, do not confirm the friendship.  That person is neither sexy, nor a girl.  And, your organs will be sold on Craigslist.  Or, even worse, Angie’s List.

The second-most important lesson you can possibly learn during your time on this planet: Never divulge your credit card information over the Internet, unless you are purchasing goods and/or services from a merchant with who you have previously done business.  Or, in some situations, a very tempting pornography website.  Your credit card statement will be littered with payments for yachts, jewelry, ferrets, and other exotic toys.  Sadly, no, Visa doesn’t care.  In fact, you deserve to be punished for not purchasing two ferrets!  You think you’re the only one who craves companionship?!

And, finally, the third-most important lesson you can possibly learn during your time on this planet: Do not, under any circumstances, take, save, or share pictures of yourself in the nude.  You will regret it, your parents will find out, and you do not look as good as you think you do. No matter your race, creed, nationality, age, gender, socioeconomic status, or sexual preference, always – ALWAYS – send a picture of Brad Pitt, instead.

Disconnect is a timely warning about the dangers of partaking in the social media revolution without taking necessary precautions.  There are two dangers that exist online.  The first, of course, is the risk of sharing too much information, and subsequently, the inability to limit the extent to which that information is shared with other parties.  Sharing information digitally can ruin your credit, your reputation, and your future.  The second danger that lurks along ethernet cables and WiFi routers is loss of reality.  Every second you spend online is a second you are not spending with a real person (or a real cat!).  Everyone needs an escape, once in a while, but it is important to remember that there are people around you who appreciate your presence and attention more than SexxxQween69 appreciates your desperate compliments.

The script is not great (I read it about five years ago), but the cast does a great job with it.  Alexander Skarsgård continues to climb up the ranks, Frank Grillo is inching closer to becoming a household name, and Jonah Bobo makes it clear he’ll be around for a while (he barely speaks, but he turns in the film’s most impressive performance).  Rubin does an impressive job of weaving the various story arcs together, without forcing them to overlap too much.  You might find yourself blaming the characters for their carelessness and brazenness, but you’ll be rooting for them, because you’ll recognize that they’re only making your mistakes.

Should I/Shouldn’t I: Disconnect is not the universe-altering wakeup call it hopes to be, but it’s a fair representation of the dangers that exist in our social-centric world.  It’s the kind of movie that is enjoyable, but will also make you think for a few seconds, once the credits start rolling.  Don’t tear an ACL running to the theater for this one, but make sure to earmark it for VOD, especially if you’re a parent of teens or tweens.  It will help cement that “All people are horrible! Never trust your friends, or anyone else!  Eat your vegetables!” speech you’ve been giving, but it won’t be as depressing as those texting-while-driving commercials.

Sundae Rating: Two scoops