At World's End Review

August 5th, 2010

An unpredictable entry in the action comedy drama genre, At World's End...quickly finds its tone....with the arrival on screen of Nikolaj Lie Kaas as Adrian, and continue with the cheeky and delightful Birgitte Hjort Sorensen as Beate his adroit and lovely assistant. Nicolas Bro, playing a supporting role as the Danish Consul, also adds to the star line up, as does a wickedly relaxed performance by Steven Berkoff as the gang leader.

The plot revolves around the exotic flower that Danish national Severin Gertsen (Nikolaj Coster-Waldau) guards with his life when we meet him in the Sumatra jungle. The screenplay delivers a thrilling chase element as the protagonists escape and there is both action and drama, with a spectacular helicopter sequence above the jungle. Down on the jungle floor, too, there are some beautiful locations for the action and the dialogue is lively and often wryly funny.

The interaction between Beate and Adrian is built on a flirtatious running gag which relies on Adrian's resistance to women - which Beate mines for all its rom-com possibilities. It is largely due to these two performances that the film is as entertaining and involving on one level, while retaining its thrills factor on another.

The Indonesian prison system gets a raspberry as Adrian and Severin enjoy the rough hospitality of the torture room, making a nice contrast with the beauty of the countryside. Neatly but not cloyingly tied up at the end, the story is entertaining and the technicals are great.

Review by Andrew L. Urban, Urban Cinefile

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