Sergeant Nicholas Angel is a London police officer with an arrest record 400% higher than any other officer. His superiors think he’s making them look bad so they transfer him to Sandford, a boring, “crime-free” town. Once there, on his first night there, Angel notices something suspicious in the pub – teenagers drinking. He arrests most of the bar and a drunk trying to get in his car. The next day he finds out that one of the people he arrested, Danny Butterman, is also a police officer and son of Police Chief. Danny is a well-meaning but overeager huge action movie fan and believes Angel to be a real-life “bad boy,” who gets in gunfights and car chases. A series of deaths occur and only Angel suspects murder. He uncovers the town secret and has to flee but he returns with an arsenal of weapons.

When I saw the previews and that Simon Pegg stars and co-wrote “Hot Fuzz”, I just knew I had to see this as soon as it hit theaters. Simon Pegg also starred and co-wrote the instant classic horror spoof, “Shaun of the Dead”. He really is brilliant comedian and writer. He convincingly combines hilarious humor with hints of sentimental and caring drama. I rarely see comedies that actually have me really caring about the main characters. Just brilliant! “Hot Fuzz” doesn’t disappoint!
I called “Shaun of the Dead” a cross between “Seinfeld” and “Night of the Living Dead”. I call “Hot Fuzz” a cross between “Scooby Doo” and “Dirty Harry” with hints of the gun scenes of Michael Gross in “Tremors”. This is more of an adult version of “Scooby Doo” – not with sex but with guns, blood and gore. The Sanford townspeople are eccentric like those in a “Scooby Doo” episode and Angel is like Fred and Danny is like Shaggy & Scooby combined into one character. But Angel is also serious like “Dirty Harry”. We don’t see the gunfight until the last twenty minutes; it’s worth the wait, I promise you!
As funny as “Hot Fuzz” is, we do get to see Angel and Danny as real people as well. We get to grow close to them and see their characters develop. By midpoint, we don’t want to see them hurt. Angel has a respectable and strong sense of right & wrong. Danny is more laid back and immature, being a huge fan of “Bad Boys II” and “Point Break”. Both characters change one another. Angel instills a sense of motivation and helps Danny to be a real detective. Danny helps Angel loosen up a little.
The story is fun and very colorful. I wasn’t bored for one second! The jokes and subtle humor is definitely British but it’s mixed with an American style comedy so there’s something for everyone. Simon Pegg and Edgar Wright are great writers and think of everything.
The acting is great. Simon Pegg never fails to perform a top-notch job and he doesn’t here either. In “Shaun of the Dead”, he plays a lazy character. In “Hot Fuzz”, he plays an overachiever. So he’s very divisive. And he’s reunited with his friend, Nick Frost, who plays PC Danny Butterman. Frost is the perfect comedic sidekick. In both “Shaun of the Dead” and “Hot Fuzz”, Frost plays a lazy character who turns heroic by the end. The rest of the cast does its part well.
One hilarious scene includes a fight in a miniature model of the town of Sanford ala Godzilla. Good stuff.
The ending really has three stages and the second one literally has the movie go out with a bang. The very end ending shows us the human side of the characters.
The SFX are good. There is a bit of blood and gore throughout, so it might not be suitable for kids. There’s beheadings, shears through the neck, stone spears through the head and more! The guns REALLY get a workout in the final twenty minutes that would make Clint Eastwood and Charlton Heston proud!
This is one of the best comedies of the year – a comedy with heart. There’s something for everyone. Must see! 5/5 stars.
Cast:
Simon Pegg … Sergeant Nicholas Angel
Martin Freeman … Met Sergeant
Bill Nighy … Metropolitan Chief Inspector Kenneth
Robert Popper … “Not” Janine
Joe Cornish … Bob
Chris Waitt … Dave
Eric Mason … Bernard Cooper
Billie Whitelaw … Joyce Cooper
Nick Frost … PC Danny Butterman
Peter Wight … Roy Porter
Julia Deakin … Mary Porter
Tom Strode Walton … Underage Drinker #1
Troy Woollan … Underage Drinker #2
Rory Lowings … Underage Drinker #3
Bill Bailey … Sergeant Turner
Paul Freeman … Rev. Philip Shooter
Trevor Nichols … Greg Prosser
Elizabeth Elvin … Sheree Prosser
Stuart Wilson … Dr. Robin Hatcher
Lorraine Hilton … Amanda Paver
Kevin Wilson … Butcher Brother
Nicholas Wilson … Butcher Brother
Timothy Dalton … Simon Skinner
Jim Broadbent … Inspector Frank Butterman
Paddy Considine … DS Andy Wainwright
Rafe Spall … DC Andy Cartwright
Kevin Eldon … Sergeant Tony Fisher
Karl Johnson … PC Bob Walker
Sampson … Saxon
Olivia Colman … PC Doris Thatcher
Edward Woodward … Tom Weaver
Graham Low … The Living Statue
Patricia Franklin … Annette Roper
Anne Reid … Leslie Tiller
Kenneth Cranham … James Reaper
Adam Buxton … Tim Messenger
Stephen Merchant … Peter Ian Staker
Elvis … The Swan
Tim Barlow … Mr. Treacher
Ben McKay … Peter Cocker
Rory McCann … Michael
Alice Lowe … Tina
Ron Cook … George Merchant
David Threlfall … Martin Blower
Lucy Punch … Eve Draper
David Bradley … Arthur Webley
Colin Michael Carmichael … Heston Services Clerk
Maria Charles … Mrs. Reaper
Alexander King … Aaron A. Aaronson
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Cate Blanchett … Jeanine (uncredited)
Steve Coogan … Metropolitan Police Inspector (uncredited)
Peter Jackson … Santa (uncredited)
Directed by
Edgar Wright
Writing credits
Simon Pegg written by
Edgar Wright written by
Article written by John Gugie, © 2007 butyoudontlooksick.com