Bring in the noise, bring in the 'Fuzz'.

Rating: 10/10 (2 August 2008)

My Take: Lampoons over-the-top action movies by turning itself into one. Look out Jerry Bruckheimer!
Movie parodies are usually banal these days, especially since the film relies too heavily on references rather than real hilarity. Luckily we got the Brits who still happen to know how to make a purely funny genre satire, and isn't afraid to even go beyond over the top. The creative team behind SHAUN OF THE DEAD, also a brilliant British comedy import, proceeds with yet another hilarious and clever spoof that is possibly the funniest one I've seen in a long time. Possible one of the best comedies I have ever seen. Here's the buzz people: It's HOT FUZZ.
The talented comedic team-up of Edgar Wright (director), Simon Pegg and Nick Frost (actors) give another shot at parodying a certain film genre and result in a darkly funny and cleverly hilarious winner that'll throw the straight action team-up of Jerry Bruckheimer and Michael Bay back to the storyboards. Now, joke's on you guys! But other than just lampooning everything on the action movie dictionary from Arnold to Woo, the film takes on a life of its own. It has a story that also (mind the 'also') functions as a clothesline for the numerous clever laughs and some terrific star performances. Yes, Pegg and Frost alone make for one star-studded affair. They work really well together.
The plot follows top MET Sgt. Nicholas Angel (Pegg), the roughest, toughest police in the force. In fact, he's so good, they reassigned him since his superiors are worried that he's no-holds bar attitude makes the force look bad. They reassigned Angel to the idyllic town of Stanford, where nothing at all happens. The only greatest 'crime' of the town is graffiti, a statue-like street performer and daily escapades with an escaped pet swan. But not to lately, a series of bizarre (and very bloody) "accidents" occur, people turned up dead. Or murdered, believes Angel who thinks that there's some serial killer who's making everything happen in a town where nothing at all happens. Angel, partnered by local police sidekick Danny Butterman (Frost), try to figure things out and set things right, big city-style.
The film contains as many pop references, as well as those in many action pictures, from famous key scenes (shooting with two guns in a slow-motion shot reminiscent a scene from John Woo's FACE/OFF) and overused clichés such as obvious villains (Timothy Dalton? A sneering bad guy? Up to no good? Come on!) and action overdose (the slam-bang finale inspired from even the best of Bruckheimer & Don Simpson). It does these so with a clever and biting sense of humor. The jokes, references and lampoons are actually funny, and not just for the time. HOT FUZZ doesn't even require you to take your thinking caps off. But mot of all, there's the comic timing and clever in-turns of Pegg and Frost who are terrific on-screen. Their funny, and smart enough to know the audiences expected something smart from them. The movie is over-the-top to be sure, and there is a high level of violent content much like 'Shaun'. Not all audiences of all tastes will enjoy everything about HOT FUZZ, but there's so much more to see here, and I'd be damned if I stop you from seeing it. If funny is what you always wanted from a comedy (and you'd better consult your dictionary if you don't), then you'd better call The Fuzz.
Rating: ***** out of 5.