hot stuff

Rating: 9/10 (15 March 2007)

Edgar Wright and Simon Pegg, director/writers/actor respectively, struck gold with their previous film Shaun of the Dead, for what is a cult hit. Wright and Pegg, tapping the same source of Shaun, are far from bleeding their well dry. Spinning conventions of the zombie genre around with the rom-com, Wright and Pegg give action it's due in the small village of Sandford, where death is more prone from an over indulgence of tea and cake at the local NWA.
Sandford starts to become lively on the arrival of hot shot and all round saint of the law, Officer Nicholas Angel, transfered from London after being extremely to good at the job and making everyone pathetic in the shadows of his commendations. Teamed with lout Danny Butterman, Angel unable to shed his rock solid adherence to the law, loses mental stability in the sleepy village where the law is transparent. After a series of seemingly unfortunate accidents, Angel smells foul play, though convincing the locals their village has a murderer is harder than apprehending the killer.
The chemistry of Hot Fuzz lies upon Pegg and Frost. Perfectly complimenting each other, whether Pegg is stiff and robotic and Frost runs with the shenanigans, or both in action mode, there is a natural play off one another, never fighting for the punchline or spotlight. Writers Wright and Pegg, don't really reach the creative level of Shaun of the Dead, in retrospect the revelation of who's behind it all is rather esoteric, but that and plot holes are quickly filled with a 'who cares' mentality. The comedy is non stop, along with a constantly spiked energy level, with Wright showing of his flare as a talented director in one bombastic yet creative shoot out. Pegg and Wright have laced moments, heavily on Point Break and Bad Boys 2, with myriad of references to virtually every buddy cop film, cop show and other films and shows to spark the childhood memories.
Together Pegg and Frost make strong leading actors, though they are surrounded by countless solid supporting actors and cameos. Bill Nighy, Martin Freeman and Steve Coogan as the London officers is Angels transfer. Bill Bailey, Olivia Colman, Kevin Eldon, Karl Johnson as the woeful Sandford officers, a solid performance from Jim Broadbent as Inspector Frank Butterman. Paddy Considine and Rafe Spall as ignorant detectives Wainwright and Cartwright. Stand out performance by Timothy Dalton, as the sly greasy shop owner Simon Skinner, and all the members of the NWA.
Whether a Shaun of the Dead fan or not, Hot Fuzz has all the goods for anyone wanting an intelligent comedy/action film.