Hot Fuzz

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Hot Fuzz
Focus Features
R
Running Time : 2:10 (Previews to Credits)

In order to make his peers appear less inadequate, London's resident super-cop is relegated to the quietest village in all of England in this week's caper "Hot Fuzz."

Sgt. Nicholas Angel (Simon Pegg) exemplifies top notch police ethic. A top academy graduate, multiple commendation recipient, and holder of an arrest record 400% higher than any other officer have earned him quite a reputation. But, unfortunately, not a whole lot of friends or healthy relationships aside from his beloved house plant.

So it would come as no surprise to anyone BUT PC. Angel that his co-workers in London would conspire to send him to a place where a man of his talents could become a Sgt. and more importantly stop making them look so bad.

Sgt. Angel is transferred to the quietest village in all of England; Sandford. The rustic streets and almost uncomfortably friendly faces serve as harbinger of what is certain to be a most quiet life for a man who thrived on "police work." Further saddling Sgt. Angel is his new partner the loveably oafish PC Danny Butterman (Nick Frost). Danny has had more of a career in watching police work, via his immense DVD library, than actually participating in said work. But, he's longing to try out both his skills as an officer and the equally impressive library of "tough guy one-liner's" he's accumulated over the years.

Angel's natural skepticism causes him to keep a sharp eye on the locals including sleazy super market magnate Simon Skinner (Timothy Dalton) and his neighborhood watch team. Thus, when bodies begin piling up from supposed accidents, Sgt. Angel leaps into action and tries to prove there is fowl play afoot but, will it in fact prove to be the cruel hand of fate and not the devilish work of devilish folk?

Once again the "Shaun of the Dead" team delivers a charmingly corny, spoof of an abused genre. This time out they've inserted "action / thriller" into the "zombie" slot and presented us with a thoroughly entertaining romp through the English countryside.

Simon Pegg and Nick Frost, best known as the duo that despite themselves avoided becoming part of a ghoulish buffet in "Shaun of the Dead", bring the same impeccable on-screen chemistry to "Hot Fuzz." And of course rounding out the returnees to this comic go-round is Pegg's writing partner and "Shaun" director Edgar Wright. The duo have their finger tightened as firmly on the pulse of pop culture as any one of the top drawer writers involved in the "Daily Show" or "South Park" and it shows in the finished product. Wright's trademark scene editing, locale cut aways and brutal, yet somehow hysterical, violence abound throughout the work, and mark a true master honing his skills even further. And just in case this trio needed further vindication of their work, do not the cameo appearances of Cate Blanchett, Peter "LOTR" Jackson, and Bill Nighy provide us with just that?

I highly recommend "Hot Fuzz" to anyone in search of good old fashioned cinematic romp. There are thrills, chills, hysterically over the top gore, and pop culture references out the wazoo all tied up in an endearing little bow that makes for a top notch film treat. Some of it might be a little over the top for young-uns but for the rest of us it is one terrifically, hot, fuzzy time, so go catch a showing … you wankers. Enjoy and take care!