Edgar Wright | Comedy With Heart (Cornetto Trilogy Analysis)

[@mylittlethoughttree]

Another reupload without copyright claims and without the janky screenshots the original had to be. This video has been in copyright disputes for so long, however, that it was uploaded a time before I even used end screens. As such, no one is credited at the end, which is a great shame. As a result, the patrons that would normally be credited at the end are instead credited in the description. Sorry guys, but I think it makes more sense to do that than reupload with an endscreen and wait another load of months to dispute the copyright all over again. Patreon link - www.patreon.com/mylittlethoughttree

[@Snovyda27]

Simon Pegg (who co-wrote these movies with Edgar Wright) has said many times that the character of Gary King is in many ways the reflection of Pegg's own struggles with depression and addiction. The fact that he drinks water in the end is actually incredibly important. It shows recovery. It shows that he's finally found his place in the world and doesn't need to self-medicate his suicidal depression with alcohol. Gary's self-destructive behaviour has been an issue for both himself and the others, and in the end he manages to recover without having to change who he was as a person. Just got healthier.

[@Arttective]

I love Janine is Cate Blanchett. They cast a huge actress then had her cover her face haha.

[@simonjohnston3100]

And that she wasn't credited, but not Janine was

[@ayrtonpietrobelli6972]

@@simonjohnston3100 Edgar Wright is genuinely my favourite director in regards to just being so charismatic and hilarious. Like yea Spielberg and the likes are technically better maybe (even then that would be criminally underrating Edgar Wrights insane abilities, especially is swing shots/panning movements) but nothing exudes comedy and pure british humour than this trilogy.

[@lyanacat1943]

King's character arch, to me, hinges on him failing as a friend when he was younger, and being able to redeem himself through his relationship with his old friends. His loyalty to the younger versions of his friends wasn't a wish fulfillment so much as a possibility to fulfill the potential he always had.

[@mylittlethoughttree]

Very well put, thankyou!

[@geesfilms5290]

the romance in hot fuzz was actually between nicholas and danny... if you look close enough they're often framed like romantic comedies frame love interests (also edgar wright himself agrees)

[@lawrencegillies]

there was originally a love story, but they decided it didnt work and gave most of the lines to Danny

[@sethmcginnis165]

It's not really even subtextual. Edgar Wright himself said: "Me and @simonpegg once wrote some Nicholas Angel and Danny Butterman slash fiction. It was called HOT FUZZ..."

[@marquisdesade3025]

Gary did have an arc in Worlds End. The aliens gave him the opportunity to be forever his high school self, and he was able to turn it down.

[@wwaxwork]

I really liked they didn't' bring the romance up again in Hot Fuzz. He was obviously someone that didn't prioritize his romance, to have it come back at the end would have felt false & like the woman was the prize. Hell they show how unimportant she was except as a symbol by putting a stunningly beautiful woman in a suit that makes her indistinguishable from everyone else. Also most people don't go back to the person they've broken up with, you're broken up I see the end of this as now in his new life if love were to come along, maybe he would prioritize it more, but it would be a new love with a new person & that's healthy. He's done the work on himself, if love does come along he's ready, if it doesn't he's still got a life he loves. Side note as an "old" person, you lose friends as you get older it's true, but you make new friends. You only stop making friends if you stop trying & honestly the friendships I have now are better than any I had in my 20's.

[@mr.dalerobinson]

I agree. I recently saw comments from a clip of Henry Rollins saying he’s happy to be alone, which accused him of being a narcissist, selfish and unnatural to do so. As a 50yo whose lived life, been committed to long term relationships which ended against my wishes and have learned to enjoy being on my own, I don’t understand how you seem to be expected to feel ‘unwhole’ without a ‘soulmate’ like it’s not only essential, but possible. Angel grows in the movie as characters should, probably making his superficial relationship with Janine (he loved his peace Lily more) an inspiration for his journey, but not a return destination. Angel made a friendship with someone so different from himself it helped him grow and develop, more so than what seems to be the possibly a relationship based on what he was ‘meant’ to do. Janine asked Angel to ‘learn how to let go’ and he did, it just may have needed him to let her go as well. It’s not always our relationship partners that inspire us, but according to many movies, romantic entanglement seems to be the only thing to motivate most characters. Romance is a nice place to go, but it rarely fulfils a full relationship requirements, you need friendship, compromise, overcoming obstacles etc. I believe you can offer a relationship more if you are comfortable in yourself, and not just fulfilling the social requirement to pair up for an outdated belief for growing the population. Finding happiness (or at least a functioning compromise towards contentment) without relying on others is practically more beneficial to the individual, and creates a better basis for a relationship - yet it seems to be considered a ‘negative’ by many You can be a single fully functioning human without being dependent or involved with another, but people will certainly use their imagination to consider reasons why you don’t have what they consider essential. Now, any relationship Angel makes can include what he’s learnt, and it can happen when he wants to, rather than needs to. He’s relaxed now enough to entertain the unorthodox, so his potential partners can come from a larger ‘pool’, increasing the possibility of finding someone who can truly be happy with. As far as the ‘greatest fear of aging is losing friends’, from my perspective it is compensated by the opportunity to understand friendship, people and yourself to balance the need with reality. Shit happens, change is a constant and learning how to have the ability to deal with it all is the best we can do.

[@Gravastars1]

This is such a good reading of World's End. It fits the theme of the world ending as well - rather than changing as a character, the character changes the conditions of his world.

[@jsmarty1]

I started watching this video only to realize I’ve never watched The World’s End. So I watched it. And tbh, it’s slowly creeping up the list of my favourite Edgar Wright films. That bit when Gary said “it’s all I’ve got” really hit me. But yeah, awesome video mate

[@mylittlethoughttree]

I sometimes think it's my favourite too. It's certainly the most emotional. A lot of people don't like it and I'm sure that's why. The fact it's so emotional is precisely what I love about it most, though

[@33_Pebbles]

yes! this is honestly my favorite movie trilogy after lord of the rings. edgar wright and simon pegg are absolute genious and should be considered international treasures

[@SnailHatan]

It’s not actually a trilogy, you know.

[@Die-CastMetal]

What makes us truly feel old are the friends that pass away and the friendships that faded away.

[@trinam1158]

Time & time again what has always made me feel old is never my own birthdays or my own age but the birthdays/ages of children that I knew when they were wee ... like of course my own children and my grandchildren...but even more in those children that I did not have any real part of raising them, where there are gaps in times seeing them. It feels like the biggest shock that time has *snapped* by so quickly ... as an example this weekend I went to wedding where my son was a ...ummm bridesMAN? His (female) bff got married on Sunday & it was the 1st time in awhile that I saw her nieces & nephews again. I knew them as "The Quads" both before & after they were born. My son & his bff would babysit the four babies from birth up to when they were 5yrs old, basically until they moved away. And wow seeing all four kids as TEENAGERS; 13yr olds versus the little humans I picture them as in my brain was a shock to my system ... I kept staring at them while telling my son that THEY made me feel old bc in my mind it felt like they were little ppl just yesterday, not THIRTEEN YEARS AGO. 😳😳😳 Anyway while I did appreciate your reply but for me; its kids who make me realize how quickly time has blown by me. Peace ✌️

[@siggiMFstarfish]

I don’t understand when people say the worlds end doesn’t have a happy ending. Yes the world ended and they didn’t end the movie together. But Andy got his wife back, “Pete” is with his family, Steven got the girl, “Ollie” was happy with his job and he gets to do that and let’s not forget that Gary is sober, happy and just having the time of his life with his best friends.

[@horaspeher3368]

Thanks so much for your point about Gary! I've always thought he was a man who's been made ill by the world. He just can't cope, he's not made to exist in a world like that. But the world changes and all of a sudden, he can become a person he always knew he could be, but the world wouldn't let him. From fool to king.

[@brianoneil9662]

I love the fact that Edgar Wright creates very flawed characters who are nonetheless likable.

[@edmontonboy99]

Like in Cobra Kai, most of the characters are flawed, they have motivations, and on each side they’re likeable or hateful.

[@yasithyasanayake3303]

This is solid content. Insightful, authentic reflection that's both interesting and useful. Thanks for the effort you put in, it's an impactful service and it's clear you're refining your craft to be more accessible and useful to your audience. It's appreciated.

[@zoffinger]

I'd hire you in a heartbeat. BUT, my realist side says, I'll subscribe and watch instead. These videos help me through my own issues. Thanks.

[@claymccoy]

17:33 - "And we wanna get loaded and we wanna have a good time . And that's what we're gonna do . We're gonna have a good time, we're gonna have a party."

[@DaRadTrav]

This channel deserves so much more recognition and subscribers. Absolutely brilliant. :)

[@Charolette21]

Nick didn't find love in the end? With no one at all? Are you sure about that? Are you forgetting Danny?

[@fables4564]

These are some of my favorite films of all time! Cinematically they tell a story from beginning to end.

[@Sly_Cooper-1408]

Gary King is sort of like Ferris Buller in a way sure he doesn’t have much of an ark but he teaches us no matter what just try and have a good time cause in the end thats all that really matters, if you had fun then you’ve won

[@filmreviewer117]

You nailed it. We all a bit of Gary King so we can remember that life isn't all about work and we need to live it to fully comprehend it.

[@TheZanzibarMan]

Fun fact: Janine is Cate Blanchette

[@maxcasteel2141]

Love hot fuzz so much, I have yet to see The World’s End though, I’ll have to get on that.

[@FigusPigus]

Great video mate! What is your favourite of the trio?

[@mylittlethoughttree]

Whichever I saw most recently, normally. I find Shaun the most fun as a parody, Hot Fuzz is the most quotable and underrated in terms of how good the mystery side to it actually is. Plus, having grown up in a village, I always find it hilarious. World's End I think has the best dialogue and the most emotion. People often regard that as the worst one because it's less relaxed and more dramatic... I dunno, objectively, I think it's the best one. Subjectively? I can never separate them, it's honestly whichever one I saw most recently

[@Jammy_Jim]

Great video. Any thoughts on Spaced?

[@mylittlethoughttree]

Shamefully, I'm yet to even see it

[@tomdadada]

Aw shame! Cause you really should, especially if you like these two guys in the front (and loads of other, really well-played characters!)

[@Jammy_Jim]

@@mylittlethoughttree, fair enough. Thanks for the reply. I first watched some of Spaced as a teen when it originally aired, so having grown up with it, I probably have a rose-tinted view of it,but every time I revisit it, it's still great. I think you can stream it from channel 4, if you get the time.

[@damebain]

Great to see how Wright's style has evolved...

[@geekexmachina]

The issue with Shaun at the end of the film for me is that his partner has abandoned any idea of ambition and trying new things where at the start she did so for me this isnt a healthy romantic end

[@mr.dalerobinson]

If part of her ambition was to improve the relationship with Shaun, then ultimately she succeeded. It’s interesting how this theme was flipped in Hot Fuzz when Angel learnt how to let go and be a ‘strong independent man who needs no woman’. I agree with your comment, but stories can’t be as complicated as real life so they need to simplify things, so this is very much a story about Shaun. However, as Shaun’s ‘grown’ as a person thru the movie, that could give her hope she can now participate in a balanced relationship where he will value her needs now.

[@lordfox9590]

He did get a different job, so it's a change and a proof of new ambitions

[@xzonia1]

I've only seen the first movie; it was cute. I was interested in seeing Hot Fuzz, but never got around to it, and I've never heard of the third movie before watching this video. Still, I enjoyed hearing your analysis. I find your videos relaxing. Thanks! :)

[@mintcosmiccookie7495]

Definitely subscribing to you! You are my new favorite video essayist! ":O I loved this analysis! You have such great writing and a nice chill voice. I love the first two films and didn't know it was a trilogy though, I need to watch to 'The World's End'!

[@RealCoolGuy]

Wow. You completely missed the point of The World's End. Gary found purpose in his life so he is no longer suicidal or needing to drink to cope (which is why he is drinking water)...he's not aimlessly pub crawling...

[@mylittlethoughttree]

Yeah, I can't argue with that. I do feel that change is a little abrupt however, rather than a hard earned character arc developing naturally throughout the rest of the film. Gary is always the same, then he achieves this set goal, then he's different. It's a triumph but, I dunno, I feel that's one of the few things that could've made the film even better

[@RealCoolGuy]

​@@mylittlethoughttree I see that. But isn't that most films..? I guess the change comes after the climax of the film since the revelation of his full problems occurs at (or right before) the climax. I think the problem with this film is they don't spell out his history. Although it's not stated directly, I think the intent was that he relapses into his teenage self and not necessarily that he has been the same person for the past 20 years (like WIll Ferrell or Adam Sandler in 99% of their films). He puts on his teenage outfit and gathers his college friends together to solve his problems by re-living his glory days and ends up solving his problems in a very different manner than intended. He wasn't dressed or acting the same way in his recovery group at the beginning of the film.. I would argue however, that regardless, his character changes at the end of the film more than any other character in any of the Cornetto trilogy. Which is also why I think it fits as a great finale to the film series as a whole.

[@mylittlethoughttree]

@@RealCoolGuy yeah I guess that's true. I suppose it's because he's told constantly all film that he needs to grow up. You're probably right, he does indeed, but certainly not in the ways they all think he needed to... or not exactly. I think that difference perhaps makes it harder to recognise his change.

[@gabrielgarcia7554]

I think Gary in the world’s end does have a better character arc. Sure he is with robot versions of his old friends but he is standing up for them as despite being robots they have humanity. Additionally not only is he now sober but I think he is now moved on from being a teenager in his head and has become a mentor. He finally got to become the leader he always wanted to be, and realised he has a better chance guiding the youth (even if they are perpetually young) because this is something he always thinks about.

[@alicemagnoni3210]

Thank you so so much for introducing me to Edgar Wright! 💙

[@edwinreid8355]

Everything in moderation, find the balance, that's what the grown-up world is all about.

[@geekexmachina]

Good Analysis thankyou. I did a set of comments on each of these films on a different channel a few months back, though for me my conclusions a a bit more pessimistic (wont go into this here as they were long comments x3 lol) the good thing about these films is the variety depths you can dig . Having grown up through some of the eras described by these films you can pick out its parallels in society at the time and some of the common relationships/ emotional baggage that went along with it. My main take is one of balance the characters in a way are designed to have heavy unbalanced flaws which are in part counter balanced by other characters and part of the character arcs bring the characters closer to the centre ameliorating in part the flaws. I think the common manifestation of these traits comes from insecurities, like "not wanting to try new things", " I must be successful to achieve a perfect life", "I dont want to grow up and have to take responsibility" which have all been common problems in British society in he past. Theres a strong theme of resisting change in each film and interestingly despite the outer appearance life goes "back to normal" in a "Keep calm and carry on" sort of way.

[@KittenisKitten]

I am not sure if your being ironic here, but I love at @2:20 you say, he does not find anyone else to love, while he looks at his best friend and finds love through friendship.

[@Kwistoweeish]

So very well said; I’d love to hear your thoughts on each of these films in their own videos!

[@feralcrafter7043]

I never saw this angle ... but I've wanted to watch these movies ... Hummm Lovely insite to movies I've wanted to see, but never have.

[@moldycarrot9267]

Christ, never noticed that the blanks that Gary hangs out with are the young versions of his old mates.

[@0divya0]

My big takeaway from all three movies is if you put a loser (Shaun, Nicholas, Gary) in the right situation, he could become a winner.

[@bw-ck3pd]

good channel ngl

[@takeshikovak8928]

thank you so much for this video 😂 my favourite film growing up

[@WolfJax]

Actually if you think about it, none of these three characters actually grew up or grew at all. Shaun stays exactly the same, the only difference now is that no one can bitch about Ed to him because he's dead and doesn't take up any resources he's locked out in the shed. Shaun doesn't have Pete as a roommate hounding him to sort his life out because he's dead and he doesn't have to worry about rent anymore because Liz moves in with him. Plus not to mention the fact that her friends are also dead and have no way of supporting her in her decision to leave Shaun. He doesn't actually get any kind of closure with his stepfather it's actually done for him. He didn't want closure with him if it was up to him he would have left him at the house he wouldn't have gotten closure had his stepfather not said anything. Shaun is completely unsuccessful in saving anybody, everybody in the movie other than him and Liz dies. And no, I'm not counting anybody else that survived outside of Shaun's group. By the end of the film Shaun has mostly resorted back to his life before the zombie apocalypse. The zombies are still around to remind everyone what happened, Liz has had her dose of excitement which will keep her content in her dead-end relationship with Shaun. He still works a dead end job going nowhere in life by the end of the film, dicking around with Ed in the shed. In the second film Nicholas Angel, while an extremely competent police officer, he has a childlike view of the law. He never turns off, even by the end of the film he still never turns off. Even the big shootout was done legally, he went to the police station and signed everything out legally and then during the entire shootout not a single person died until the old guy came out with a shotgun and accidentally set off the sea mine, which honestly how many people did it actually kill. At Max maybe the people they arrested during the shootout. By the end of the film Nicholas literally has an entire town to play cop in. He's living out his childhood fantasies in that pedal car in the real world now. He doesn't have to turn off. And as far as Gary King well you're pretty much spot on there. Gary literally is so destructive that he refuses to give up on the Golden Mile even though his friends are dying. He does not care at all about the people around him as long as he gets to finish the Golden Mile. There's no amount of growth and if you want to argue that his growth comes in the form of him being sober by the end of the movie, look at what it took for him to sober up. The literal end of the world. He couldn't find his place in life and wanted to die but now that the world's end he doesn't have to conform to society he can literally play out this fantasy of being the king with his childhood friends who will never grow older. All three of these movies are a character study on the dangers of perpetual adolescence to varying degrees. In all three films, none of the characters change. None of them grow. Shaun, Nicholas and Gary don't change or grow, the world changes around them so that they don't have to. Shaun can continue his regular mindless routine, Nicholas gets to be super cop and Gary gets to be the king of his never-ending d&d role-playing game. And I know somebody is going to sit there and probably make the argument that Nicholas Angel actually does grow because he's able to joke around and be friendly with his fellow officers but I mean why shouldn't he be able to relax, he's in charge. Everything is being done by the book which is the thing that makes him happy, therefore he doesn't grow as a person, he just found a place that can cater to him, same with Shaun and Gary respectively. I love these movies these are some of my favorite movies in the world but for anyone who thinks they're any kind of coming of age story they are dead wrong. To reiterate, all three of these movies are basically what would happen if the screw up was the protagonist or the overly ambitious by the book one or the severely narcissistic alcoholic. Were meant to like these characters not look up to them. Oh and one more thing about Shaun, because I would hate for this to not be mentioned. Shaun literally has the same routine for the zombie apocalypse as he does for every other day of the week. Get up go to the store come back get ready go to work come home get changed around and go to The Winchester. Nothing about his day really changed other than the fact that some people died. Regardless of everything he still went to the pub had a pint and waited for all of it to blow over. What about anything in that movie said that he grew up and found a balance in his life. And also the message of the trilogy overall, is that perpetual adolescence leads nowhere in life and can only lead to death and destruction to varying degrees. I will say this though I did enjoy watching the video and I do enjoy your take on it

[@RobertNolan]

I don't know where people submit ideas, but it would be kind of cool to see you compare the monologue scenes in both Boiler Room and Glenngary Glenn Ross. Ben Affleck talking to the group of young boys just getting started, while Alec Baldwin is talking to the group of older men at the end of their career. They even reference Glenngary in Boiler Room.

[@lasmirandadennsiewillja9435]

I'm not sure I fully agree with the take on Gary. Trying to keep it short - he doesn't want to conform. He expected adult life would be like a chosen-one adventure but it didn't happen. The grind happened, and he refused to join. It looks for a moment like his matured friends. His friends, throughout the bar hopping quest, realize this kind of life is not for them, instead, they look forward to go back to their adult lives and work on it (improving family life and marriages, or settling down with one woman instead of banging through younger fitness instructors). Basically, they want to become even more mature. Gary doesn't reject the young body because he now wants to become a mature adult. He rejects the condition: he can have it if he conforms and lives how the aliens dictate. It's not about being actually young for him, it's about doing what he wants despite not being young. His refusal to conform destroys the world as they knew it and causes even more grind for his friends who now have to struggle for basic survival while rebuilding society in a world without cushy 9-5s and convenience stores. And again, Gary does not join the mature grind. As soon as his friends go back to being adults, he ditches them for copies of his friends' younger selves (who are conveniently free from any obligations and loved once who could take their attention away from Gary). And does exactly what he had always dreamed of doing - become some kind of vigilante adventurer. He's living a teen's daydream wishfulfilment/power fantasy. That's the opposite of growing up and maturing. He does stop drinking, yes. Because drinking was his unhealthy way to cope with a world he didn't fit in. Now, that he got a world where he wasn't forced to conform to the adult grind world, he doesn't need to cope anymore. And that's the important point: Gary does not change. He has the same wants, wishes, and needs as he did before and he was self-destructive and unhappy because the world didn't have room for an adult like him. It's the drastic change of the world that allows Gary to not change and be exactly the kind of adult he always wanted to be. It's not a changed Gary King, it's the same Gary King who has been given the opportunity to thrive in exactly the way he always wanted. At the small price of changing the world and condemning everyone else who had someone else to care about but just themselves to a post-apocalyptic grind.

[@edmundharry9879]

Does anyone know what the song is?

[@mylittlethoughttree]

Nymano - Falling Leaves

[@edmundharry9879]

@@mylittlethoughttree - OK thank you very much

[@edmundharry9879]

@@mylittlethoughttree OK thank you very much - a beautiful instrumental

[@stoneylonesome7]

Gary's arc is completed when he chooses to destroy the younger version of himself

[@austinthacker7589]

You should really do an in depth review of Reign Over Me with Adam Sandler, an amazing movie

[@danielclark-hughes692]

For Gary to have a life he could enjoy there had to be an apocalypse lol

[@recless8667]

To be perfectly honest, I don't like the zombie comparison to "lifeless." I think this puts an unhealthy disparagement on people living a life without roots; I'm settled down, married and fostering a kid (been with my partner for 10 years). I have friends in their early 20's; I see the same phases I went through in them. It's about experimentation and figuring out what things are worth retaining in your life as you age. Just because someone is at a different phase in their development doesn't mean that the phase is a waste of time or invalid; the phase is important, and the lessons from that phase will shape them for the next 10-20 years.

[@AA-hg5fk]

I bloody love the Cornetto Trilogy, all are masterpieces in British comedy. Good video but please don't include the repetitive and annoying background music, not required.

[@leedawg5208]

OH FUCK YES

[@bw-ck3pd]

nice '

[@nowitssovivid1273]

I knew I was gonna like this video before I even opened it.

[@briansinger5258]

More like the Alcoholism Trilogy…The masculine in the films is not defined by the feminine. Being strong and creative without the need for external validation or falling back into addiction. At once an examination of regression and stagnation. Trauma overcome in a Nietzschean cataclysm. 1. Accountability 2. Self determination 3. Leadership Hail to the King.

[@purelightfromthelostplace6747]

Bro moving away from home and losing contact with childhood friends is normal and what happens .... 😂 aww the young ...they know so little of life

[@mylittlethoughttree]

Yes, but when you do first reach that age of growing up and moving away, it is a difficult thing to adjust to

[@andrewwiggin6971]

stevie ray vaughan

[@timothyspool1399]

The problem with the "trilogy" is that it isn't really a trilogy. The third film is awful and nothing like the first two.