Luke-Warm Fuzz.

Rating: 7/10 (25 July 2007)

Hot Fuzz is one of those films that creates a love/hate relationship with most people. Those that don't 'get it' will no doubt hate it but those that like films like this and pretty much use films like this as a cut off point for their further filmic viewing will love it. I have to admit that I am veering more towards the 'hate it' category as I've seen rather a large amount of films and can honestly say close to brainless, all action and comedic films like this are only fun every once in a while.
I do, however, think it's fantastic to see Britain produce films like this and Shaun of the Dead given the state of affairs Hollywood is in what with all the sequels and remakes that are being made and what better way to make it big in the States by spoofing those action films Americans have become all too associated with. Hot Fuzz is really just a stab; it's a stab at many things. These can include minor stabs at small town police forces or full blown stabs at films that rely on ridiculous, over the top action scenes; two of which are mentioned in this film anyway (Point Break and Bad Boys 2) and two of which are referenced very cleverly to boot.
Also, if you've never been a member of the police force or have never been in a small town/village police station, who knows what goes on inside? The fact the station has its own 'swear jar' and a riot gear storage cupboard that is covered in cobwebs through disuse is absolutely hilarious, as is the relaxed approach all the officers have. I especially liked the head of the CCTV thinking he had a very important job to do when really, nothing criminal happens so there's no need for him to even be there. Another clever convention that the writers included and at well spaced times was the emphasis on seemingly meaningless jobs. So many times do we see focus on Nicholas Angel (Pegg) having to deal with insignificant tasks such as recovering a lost swan or having to deal with a church fete yet they are still moulded into the plot somehow in a clever and entertaining way.
If Shaun of the Dead was a parody of zombie films then like I said earlier, Hot Fuzz is a parody of Hollywood action films. The scene when Danny Butterman (Frost) shoots uncontrollably into the air from a lying position and when the chopper flies overhead in slow motion as Danny and Angel emerge from the wreckage are two scenes straight out of Point Break (1991) and Bad Boys II (2003), respectively; both of which, when they eventually occur are fantastic to watch in an oddly surreal way.
On top of this, towards the end the film seems to cleverly flick between reality and fantasy. The scene in question is when after spoofing so many films in an ultra unrealistic way, the film has the audacity to turn down the chance to use a one liner and this is mentioned by Danny to Angel who replies back something like "No, that's only in the movies." Very funny yet playful with the testing of realism at the same time.
What Hot Fuzz lacks for in brains, it makes up for in style as it cleverly switches from opening like a dramatic, cop thriller before turning to an episode of 'Inspector Morse', before morphing again into Bad Boys II and then completing its transformation when it finishes like The Wicker Man (1973). Some jokes however don't work, especially the character of Simon Skinner (Dalton). His constant references to decapitation get very tiresome very quickly and might just as well walk around with a placard saying: 'Here, I'm the bad guy' but this is cleverly played with later on as we assume the writers take us all for mugs. On the whole, if you can look past the things that make Hot Fuzz look more like an hour and a half long spoof show, you'll find a funny and at times engaging film that despite its flaws will pass the time very easily.