Review of Hot Fuzz (2007) by Hector C — 06 Jan 2013

Action, comedy, mystery and a creepy-as-hell hooded figure taking the lives of the villagers of sleepy village Sandford, all have a part to play in Wright, Pegg and Frostâ(TM)s follow up to their rom-com with zombies, Shaun of the Dead. But the âcreepy-as-hellâ? hooded figure takes centre stage in what is a strange yet action-packed action comedy. Or is it a horror mystery thriller? Or a cop film parody?

You see, screenwriters Edgar Wright and Simon Pegg seem to take a fair share of the various film genres and throw them all into the blender, resulting in a liquidy mesh of action, horror, comedy etc. But yet the filmâ(TM)s lack of identity is the first and last of my worries about this film.

Hot Fuzz pays homage to the smart and strangely mind-bending whodunit situation, in which Nicholas Angel (Pegg), because he made the Metropolitan Police Service look bad, is reassigned to the sleepy village of Sandford, where âaccidentsâ? are happening left right and centre. As you can expect, theyâ(TM)re not really so called accidents, but a series of killings that Angel (or Angle as the local paper foolishly calls him), with the reluctant help from the tubby son (Nick Frost) of the Inspector (Jim Broadbent), must figure out if he wants to restore peace to the village.

But Hot Fuzz isnâ(TM)t a one trick pony, it boasts a bag full of laugh-out-loud moments including this cracker: âWhenâ(TM)s your birthday? 22nd Feb. What year? Every year.â? Whether itâ(TM)s mocking cop films or just classic old slapstick, Hot Fuzz has got it. But not only that, but Hot Fuzz will make you giddy with its action! Bullets are flying around the village square, sea mines are blowing up, nannies are kicking ass avec shotguns. The final half an hour is exhilarating and heart-pounding yet it somehow manages to keep a smile on your face. Wright and Pegg donâ(TM)t muck around here!

Ultimately, this film is one great big hoot. Laughs and action galore, this action/comedy/horror/thriller/parody film will tickle your excitement gland with its epic action vibe.