Back in 2004, Simon Pegg and Edgar Wright released a small cult film named “Shaun of the Dead.” A quirky, comedic take on the zombie genre, “Shaun” succeeded as a parody not just because it made fun of zombie movies, but because it had such a keen eye for the genre conventions which it then turned on its head. Unlike crap like “Epic Movie” or “Date Movie” which take recognizable plots and then turn one aspect on its head with a “that’s so crazy!” mentality, Pegg and Wright can spoof because they so obviously love the genres they’re parodying. Like “Shaun of the Dead” and zombies, “Hot Fuzz” reexamines the buddy cop movie (think “Bad Boys” or “Lethal Weapon”) with a cheeky, self-aware eye that is both excellent homage and humorous pastiche.
Nicholas Angel (Pegg) is a supercop patrolling the mean streets of downtown London. When his extreme efficiency begins to make the rest of the police force look bad, he’s unceremoniously dumped in middle-of-nowhere Sandford, the acclaimed “best village in England.” With the harshest crimes being underage drinking and graffiti, and with drunken lout Danny Butterman (Nick Frost) for a partner, Angel chafes in his new surroundings until a mysterious string of “accidental” deaths sets him on the trail of a massive conspiracy. Angel and Danny, the perfectionist and the hedonist, must band together to form the perfect cop team to take down the bad guys and save the day.
Early in the film, movie-obsessed Danny queries Angel about his big city police work, specifically whether he has ever: shot at a car during a high speed pursuit, used a witty catchphrase or done that sweet move where the guy leaps through the air with two guns blazing. Despite Angel’s terse negative, the film has laid out a promise: We’re going to show you that, ’cause that shit’s awesome. Pegg and Wright are certainly fans of action movies and there’s almost a child-like delight (also seen in the acting of Pegg and Frost) in being able to recreate some of their favorite action scenes and motifs. They’re also excellent at setting up most of the jokes, but are also careful to ensure that the audience is in on the joke too. When the unexpected happens, it’s because we’re set in that action movie mindset, and each gag seems to be accompanied with a knowing wink towards the audience. Add to this the great chemistry between bumbly Danny and straight man Angel, along with excellent cameos by Martin Freeman, Bill Nighy and Timothy Dalton, and you have another piece in a great new wave of British humor.
Admittedly, the movie isn’t for everyone. The film can get bogged down and drag for a while, and some may be put off by the distinctly British humor. If you haven’t seen many action movies and aren’t a fan of the genre, much of the film may just seem like more of the same.
If you liked “Shaun of the Dead,” you should certainly enjoy “Hot Fuzz” (and if you haven’t seen “Shaun of the Dead,” do yourself a favor and check it out). In the days where “Scary Movie” has already put out four installments and crap like “Wild Hogs” tops the box office, it’s refreshing to see that people with good comic sensibilities and a love of movies are still able to create films.
Grade: A-
