Hot Fuzz
Director: Edgar Wright
Rated: MA
Now screening



Nick Angel (Simon Pegg) is an overachieving London copper eager to rid the streets of filth. Tired of his arrest record showing them up, he is transferred by his superiors to the sleepy village of Sandford. Arriving at his new turf he meets his new police colleagues, among them Danny (Nick Frost), who is thirsty for 'hardcore action'. Little of that is in evidence as Angel comes to know the eccentric townsfolk.

When a series of murders occur however, it's up to Angel and his new sidekick to choose from a list of wicked suspects including the vicar, the florist, and the manager of the local supermarket.

After skewering the zombie genre in 'Shaun Of The Dead', comedians Simon Pegg and Nick Frost turn their attention to tacky cop shows and action films. Using countless references to the overblown macho films of Stallone, Willis, etc, they have transferred that sensibility to the genre of upper crust murder mysteries with hilarious results. As the bodies pile up, so does Angel's determination to use the strong arm of the law - no matter how many cups of tea gets spilt. Pegg's fruitful partnership with Frost continues, making for a fine comedic team.

The whole cast seem to have a whale of a time between the bullets and scones. With a cast that includes Timothy Dalton, Edward Woodward and Bill Nighy, the line up of British thespians elevate the comedy to another level. It's especially pleasing to see Dalton in a rare comedy role, enjoying himself as a seemingly sinister supermarket boss. Importantly they all play their roles completely straight, heightening the absurdity of the film.

Despite the film being way too long for its own good, it's so entertaining that it manages to sustain interest until the end. The action packed finale rivals those seen elsewhere with the comedy maintained amongst the bullet bloodlust. The corny action dialogue is in abundance, but thankfully character development isn't forgotten, setting up the story and action in equal measures. The kitsch soundtrack perfectly captures the stylised comedy on display.

Unlike some films where the funny bits are in the trailers, 'Hot Fuzz' revels in its outlandish comedy from the start. More focused than their previous film, the comedy isn't played too smartly that audience wouldn't get it, but nor is it 'dumbed down' as most American comedies appear to be. 'Hot Fuzz' delivers its rousing copper comedy at a speed that would make 'Lethal Weapon's Martin Riggs breathless.

Patrick Moore