Actually outdoes Shaun of the Dead

Rating: 10/10 (16 October 2009)

If you thought Wright's directorial debut(this may even outdo it for how much set up and payoff) was just a fluke, you gotta watch this. A pastiche of the action-flick and buddy comedy sub-genres(and this works as that type of picture, also), this is a perfect send-up of those Hollywood dime-a-dozen flashy movies that we've all seen more of than we're willing to admit. This is how you do parody. The humor is excellent, next to no gags or jokes fall flat, and so many different kinds... black, British, verbal, cleverness, satire, silliness, and some gross-out material. I would be lying if I claimed that, at any point in this, an extended period of time passed without me cracking up. The plot is marvelous, and the twists are incredible. While I did catch at least one thing coming, this still majorly surprised me. The direction is impeccable. Writing is brilliant, the script is packed with gold. The dialog is astounding, and the delivery is flawless. Every acting performance is spot-on, and the comic timing is beyond reproach. I've heard complaints that Simon's character is excessively "supercop", and that the audience can't relate to him. Honestly, I respectfully disagree. He has plenty of personality, and we can recognize the drive he has, and being a workaholic. The chemistry between him and Nick again adds a lot. I can't say enough positive things about the cast. This is packed and dense, and warrants(not to mention deserves) multiple viewings. Almost every single cliché is spoofed on. The pacing is extremely fast throughout. In fact, that is really the only negative thing I can think of to say. It's literally almost too stimulating. Maybe 120 minutes of this team is an overly generous dose. I started this review right when the credits began rolling, it's been an hour, and I'm still recuperating. However, I cannot in good conscience complain about that, and hey, maybe others possess a greater amount of... uhm... dopamine, I suppose. Or better capability of producing it... whatever. If you need to, take a break from it, rest afterward, split it into parts, but in the name of all that is holy, do not miss this for the world, unless you do not believe that you will enjoy this. There is infrequent strong language in this, as well as disturbing content, and brutal, bloody violence and gore. The DVD comes with a commentary track with Wright and Pegg(outspoken, so some may be offended) well worth the time, 22 deleted scenes with the option of hearing the thoughts behind them during, trailers, 'Hot Funk'(the censored version, with cussy scenes cut together, altered with the goofy dubbed over lines), storyboards, The Man Who Would Be Fuzz(the two leads doing impersonations of Michael Caine and Sean Connery), trailers and hilarious outtakes. I recommend this warmly to anyone who can imagine liking it. 10/10