One hell of a ride...comedy, action and gore...a must see for a Simon Pegg and Nick Frost fan...

Rating: 8/10 (20 May 2011)

Hot Fuzz is the second film in the planned trilogy; Blood and ice cream, directed by Edgar Wright, featuring Simon Pegg and Nick Frost. It is the follow up to 2004 film; Shaun of the dead, featuring primarily the same cast as Hot Fuzz, which is not strictly a sequel to Shaun of the dead, since the two films have completely different plots and characters.
Simon Pegg plays Nicholas Angel, a talented young police constable in London's metropolitan police service, who is very dedicated to his job. He gets called to the station one day, and is offered a promotion to sergeant, the downside being that he has to leave London, to take his sergeant post in the crime-free, idyllic country town of Sandford, Gloucestershire. When he declines the offer, stating that he enjoys his current job, it turns out that it is no offer after all. The reasoning behind this is that he is so good at what he does, that he is making the rest of the police look bad. He is left with no choice but to take the post and leave London.
In Sandford he is partnered with fellow police officer Danny Butterman, played by Nick frost, a childish and naive man, with whom Pegg's character gradually builds a friendship with. Danny and Nicholas are polar opposites. Nicholas is a perfectionist and a workaholic, while Danny is a slacker who longs for a more cinematic, action filled life. Against all odds, their personality turns out to be a perfect fit, as Nicholas mentors Danny to become a better officer, while Danny teaches Nicholas to "switch off".
As the days go by, strange deaths starts to occur, and while Nicholas suspects murder, the rest of the force brushes it off as accidents. Maybe this town is not so crime-free after all.
This all leads up to a very satisfying climax, one that I do not wish to spoil. All that I can say is that it is action packed, hilarious and exquisitely put together.
Edgar Wright's comedies rely heavily on timing, and this film is no exception. The movie moves fast, and the jokes move along even faster. You can watch it over and over, and always find something new to laugh at. It is filled to the brim with jokes, each joke funnier than the last one. He has a very distinct style of cutting, with fast scenes used as transitions or visual gags. These scenes are usually very clear and straight to the point, such as the scene when he travels to Sandford, a very fast sequence of clips, primarily highlighting the facts that not much is happening.
After writing, starring and directing "Shaun of the dead" Edgar Wright and Simon Pegg turn their sights to the action/comedy genre, transposing the usual American fare and bringing it to a rustic English setting. Simon Pegg has once again proved that he is not only good with zombies but also has a Cop, oh sorry!- Super Cop. This movie is not just a master piece but also a treat of comedy, action and a real sense of humor. Simon Pegg decides in this film to take more of a straight man role and leaves most of the comedy to his friend Nick Frost, who does not let him down giving what could just have been the stooge role of Danny Butterman a great deal of charm and pathos. Simon Pegg and Nick Frost are both great in their roles, delivering their dialogue perfectly. They are a perfect duo. The rest of the supporting cast do their jobs supremely well, from the Oscar-winning Jim Broadbent, through to Olivia Coleman, Kevin Eldon, Anne Reid, Adam Buxton, Bill Bailey and the supremely brilliant Timothy Dalton who excels as the seemingly obvious villain of the piece. The script and the direction are superb and the film switches effortlessly between comedy and action and occasionally horror. The other mistake that the film so deftly avoids is the desire to slap some kind of love interest in there. There is nothing you can expect in an entertainment more than this. I'm a huge fan of the duo. The chemistry between Simon Pegg and Nick Frost is simply admirable.
Hot Fuzz" is at it's best with the many laugh out loud moments: the runaway goose, translating the local dialect, the human statue "threat", the bodyguard who just says "Naarp!", and wordplay twists throughout. These smart bits of humor make the film a keeper just be prepared for high action and some gore with your laughs. I give it a whooping 8 out of 10.