Three Flavours Cornetto Trilogy

Shaun of the Dead, Hot Fuzz and The World's End

For anyone who doesn’t know,, although I am sure you all do, Edgar Wright, Simon Pegg, and Nick Frost are just a comedy dream team, and I really hope we get another film at some point with these 3.

I have watched these 3 films many times, and never get bored of them, and don’t think I ever will.

Shaun of the Dead (2004)

I can still remember the first time I watched Shaun of the Dead, and I think I laughed harder than I’ve ever laughed at a film.

Shaun (Pegg), is just a regular guy stuck in a rut, whose life is basically a series of bad decisions and TV marathons, and then, of course, the zombies show up, and that’s when it becomes pure, glorious mayhem.

But the movie isn’t just screaming and running from zombies, as it’s also very clever, where the humor is everywhere, and it sneaks up on you, and one minute you’re watching Shaun try to get to the corner store for a pint, and the next, you’re noticing some tiny visual gag in the background that makes you rewind and watch it again just to make sure you saw it right.

And I did, as I catch new jokes every single time, where every viewing felt like discovering a hidden treasure, from the timing of the punchlines to the little awkward moments between Shaun and Liz.

The zombie sequences are fantastic too, because they manage to be both gory and hilarious – the way the zombies move, the little physical comedy bits, they’re all ridiculous, but that’s exactly the point, as this movie doesn’t take itself too seriously, but it’s not dumb either.

It’s smart in that subtle way that makes you laugh harder when you realize you’re laughing at things you didn’t even know were jokes, and Shaun of the Dead is just one of those horror comedy films that hits every single note perfectly – funny, clever, and touching - it’s one of those films where if someone asks, “What’s your favorite movie?” I pause and think, “Well, Shaun of the Dead is an option.”

Every single thing about it just works, and it’s a perfect storm of comedy genius.

Hot Fuzz (2007)

If Shaun of the Dead was the love letter to zombie movies, then Hot Fuzz is a love letter to buddy cop films and absurd action flicks, where Wright, Pegg, and Frost manage to match the brilliance of Shaun of the Dead in a totally different way.

This time Pegg plays Nicholas Angel, who is your classic overachieving cop, and he’s the kind of guy who follows the rules so obsessively that he’s basically terrifying, and then he gets sent to this sleepy village, where everyone is way too friendly and nothing is as peaceful as it seems, with another cop, Danny (Frost) there to balance him out.

The banter between the two is a thing of beauty, though the movie starts a little slowly, as you’re wandering through this quiet village, getting to know the characters, but once the movie gets going, it is non-stop ridiculousness.

The action sequences are absurd, over-the-top, and hilarious, and in Hot Fuzz, every punch, every gunshot, every chase sequence is perfectly timed for comedy, and t’s ridiculous and brilliant all at once, and compared to Shaun of the Dead, Hot Fuzz is more in-your-face and more absurd, which is still funny, don’t get me wrong.

Nicholas Angel is also a fantastic character – he’s heroic, funny, and sometimes painfully serious – and while Shaun had this relatability, the kind of guy you could root for in your own life, Nicholas Angel on the other hand is a little too perfect to ever feel like your friend, even though you are still rooting for him.

Still, Hot Fuzz is another brilliant watch - the pacing, the comedy, the action, the satire is all on point, and like Shaun of the Dead, it’s one of those films that you can watch over and over, and still find yourself laughing at new things.

The World’s End (2013)

The World’s End is different from the other two films, for starters, it’s not really a spoof of any particular genre, and mostly it’s just weird, but it’s also original, which is both exciting and slightly jarring when you have gotten used to the familiar formula.

Gary King (Pegg) is not like Shaun or Nicholas Angel either, as he’s a washed-up drunk who’s still obsessed with high school glory days, and he drags his friends along on a pub crawl that they tried and failed years ago.

And when I say “drags,” I mean it literally, as this guy is selfish, immature, annoying and somehow, by the end, you’re rooting for him anyway.

The first half of the movie is basically character development, and it’s a lot slower than the previous 2, as you watch old friends bicker, reminisce, and try to relive their youth, but then it explodes.

As mentioned, Shaun and Nicholas Angel are easy characters to root for in the previous movies, but Gary really isn’t - he’s selfish and makes questionable decisions, but part of the point of the movie is that these characters are flawed, and watching them stumble through this bizarre apocalypse is very satisfying.

The ending is also quite different than the other two movies as well, but it still balances the humor and emotion in a way that feels like a true fit for the trilogy, even if it’s not quite as brilliant as Shaun of the Dead or Hot Fuzz.

Final Thoughts

When you watch all three in a row, it really reminds you how good this trio is.

The comedy, the visual gags, the clever writing, the little nods to other films and genres - it all comes together in a way that feels effortless, where you just end up having a great time, as that’s what these movies are about.

And if I had to rank them, I’d go with the order they were released.