Angel Has Risen

Rating: 8/10 (6 January 2020)

I've seen this movie only once before, LONG, LONG ago and weirdly, my memory on it is wildly fuzzy.
I mean, what I recall are the events leading up to our hero cop from London finally relaxing in the pub and loosening up a bit. But, that's like 30 minutes in, and we still have 90 more minutes to go! And that's my biggest problem with this movie. How incredibly long it is for a "comedy."
But, that's the catch...22. I really would NOT consider this a comedy. This is 100% a mystery-action FIRST and comedy third. Now, don't get me wrong; this movie is hilarious. MANY times did I LAUGH OUT LOUD at its brilliant humor, but for the most part, it's a mystery with just a tad more action than humor. Like half a percent.
London's got a Supercop. No, not the Jackie Chan one actually referenced here. They have an overzealous, smart, by the book OFFICER who's making everyone else in the Capital look bad. So, they ship him to a small, crimeless country town and when unique and horrific "accidents" begin to happen, "Hot Fuzz," himself, is on the case.
I will praise myself a bit. Once I started to try and think of this more of a mystery than comedy, I pegged the bad guy(s.) And I was right! So, way to go, Steve! Despite how many movies I see, I'm usually terrible at guessing the murder-mystery villains. Ok, that all said...I was only partially right.
Helps my memory on this was 90% wiped. And that's a good feeling. I love forgetting great movies and rediscovering them a decade or more later. It's like getting the same feeling all over again.
They call this movie part of a trilogy despite none of the same characters appear in any of the three films: Shaun of the Dead, Hot Fuzz and The World's End. While I totally dug this movie, I would absolutely rank these three films in the exact order of the supposed trilogy.
This movie, again, was unquestionably hilarious and I loved the mystery and plight of Simon Pegg's character, alongside non-sexual partner Nick Frost. But, given the chance to see this again or Shaun of the Dead, I would 100% make it a double feature night!
Much like 1991's Point Break and Bad Boys II.
***
Final thoughts: Speaking of which - while not a huge fan of Bad Boys 1, I thought it was just OK having just seen it for the first and ONLY time on 2/26/12. (Can't believe it's been that long!) Since this movie referenced the sequel and long-delayed Part III is scheduled to come out soon, perhaps I need to finally see that for the first time.
Final Thoughts II: Speaking of Sequels - while Nick Frost wasn't wildly out of character or really anything in this film but a great friend and emotional misdirect in the finale (I really did tear up a bit!!!,) it was so odd seeing Pegg as the Straight Man. That took SUCH a long time to peg Simon as the "normal" one. It's like seeing James Bond as a Supermarket Owner.
This film was no holds barred! As they said. For the greater good.