Hot Fuzz
This 2007 film by the same crew that brought us Shaun Of The Dead is a worthy follow-up even if it doesnāt feature the comedic high points of the earlier release. This time, we get a send-up of high-octane action films encapsulated within a perfectly subversive storyline. Simon Pegg plays a highly decorated London supercop who finds himself transferred to a sleepy little hamlet in the country, where the worst crimes are things like underage drinking and stolen swans. Heās teamed with a portly partner (Nick Frost), who harbors a deep love of American action movies and longs to see some fireworks in his own right. Soon, an apparent serial killer starts bumping off local residents and making them look like accidents, leading to the uncovering of a local conspiracy and allowing Frost to get his wish of being involved in some shoot em up action, complete with oneliners. There are certain points when the story gets a little too serious for its own good (particularly towards the end), when means the laughs donāt come as fast as in Shaun, but Pegg and Frost continue to have a wonderful comic chemistry, and their ābromanceā is truly the heart of the film as it was in their previous teaming. The supporting cast is mostly made up of British character actors including Oscar winner Jim Broadbent as the genial police chief, Edward Woodward, Bill Nighy, and former Bond Timothy Dalton relishing his chance at playing a cagey bad guy. Itās no secret that while writing this movie, Pegg and director Edgar Wright consulted a book by Roger Ebert listing the most tiresome action movie clichĆ©s, and somehow managed to incorporate them all into the film with loving care. That is probably what is most enjoyable to fans of the genre, with an extra special wink given to Point Break and Bad Boys 2. The film also features more over the top gore and bloody violence that has come to mark their work and guarantees the whole affair an R rating. Overall, while not as anarchic and brilliant as their zombie comedy, a strong reteaming that makes one look forward to their next workā¦
8/10