One of the funniest movies I've seen in a long time

Rating: 9/10 (22 April 2007)

It goes without saying that parody movies can be pretty hit and miss. While some of them can be genuinely funny, many of the more recent ones tend to fail mostly because they are nothing more than strings of jokes that seem to imply that the filmmakers have a near complete disdain for whatever is being parodied. These filmmakers can learn a lot from Simon Pegg and Edgar Wright and their latest film, "Hot Fuzz." While it is a great parody of action movies in general and buddy cop movies in particular, the fact that it's a parody isn't what makes it one of the best movies I've seen in a long time. That is all due to a sharp and witty script, a coherent yet absurd murder mystery plot that takes itself seriously enough to draw the viewer in yet not enough to forget how ridiculous it really is, and an obvious love for the movies it parodies instead of a disdain for them.
The plot centers around Nicholas Angel, a tough London police officer who is apparently so good that he makes the rest of his force look bad by comparison. Basically, he's the kind of unstoppable supercop that cheesy action movies are all about. Unfortunately for him, his peers get tired of him making all of them look bad, so they transfer him to the picturesque and practically crime-free town of Sanford to get rid of him. Needless to say, Angel is not happy with this change, especially when he meets the lazy, dimwitted slackers that make up Sanford's police department. They seem to be far more interested in going to the pub than investigating crime scenes, so they naturally take offense to the uptight Angel and his desire to crack down on all manner of crime (which he does the night he arrives in town even before he officially joins the police force). His only real friend on the force seems to be Danny Butterman, his overweight, clumsy partner who has watched way too many action films. Danny thinks being a big-city cop is all car chases and shootouts just like in the movies he loves, so naturally he's in awe of the tough Angel, even though he is told that being a police officer in the city isn't what he thinks it is. When it becomes clear that people seem to die all the time in grisly and bizarre "accidents," Angel immediately suspects foul play, even though the rest of the police department is too stupid and/or lazy to follow up with an investigation.
The main murder mystery plot is (mostly) played straight even when it's at its most absurd. The humor, much like in Edgar Wright's previous film "Shaun of the Dead," lies with the characters and their reactions to what is happening around them. Simon Pegg does a great job portraying Nicholas Angel as a nearly humorless, uptight, by-the-book police officer who grows increasingly frustrated by the incompetence of his peers. He clearly isn't happy unless he's solving a crime and arresting someone, and it's a lot of fun to watch him scowl and slow-burn at the apparent ignorance that plagues the Stepford-like citizens of Sanford. It's also impossible not to like Nick Frost as Danny Butterman. He has a childlike enthusiasm for the kind of two-fisted heroics that he believes he will be a part of as Angel's new partner. His friendship with Angel also makes for a sweet subplot as we see the uptight Angel slowly start to warm to Danny. The rest of the cast is spot-on as well, with the standout being Timothy Dalton as a sinister supermarket owner who chews the scenery at every opportunity. He's clearly having a lot of fun playing what can best be described as a classic mustache-twirling villain.
If I can find any fault with this movie, it's that it sometimes moves rather slowly. Much of the humor is in the portrayal of the characters and in the clever dialog, so much of it might not appeal to viewers who like lots of explosions and car chases. It must also be said that if you are one of those people, rest assured that the third act of the film more than makes up for it. Without giving too much away, I can say that the movie goes from a comedy/murder mystery into a series of completely insane and gleefully over-the-top action scenes that spoof practically every action movie cliché ever put on screen. In fact, I would recommend seeing this movie for the last thirty minutes alone.
I've been looking forward to this movie ever since I heard that the writers and director of "Shaun of the Dead" were making it. "Shaun of the Dead" is one of my favorite movies, and I didn't think this could top it. Therefore, it means a lot when I say that "Hot Fuzz" beats "Shaun" hands down.