Hot Fuzz (2007) Review
Written by: BlackTequilaKiss
Black comedies are the bread and butter of British movies and this is the best to come along in some time. Tagline: Big Cops. Small Town. Moderate Violence.
Yes there have been some great British movies since Hot Fuzz but this is a movie that does not get enough love and deserves to. Mixing horror with humour, black comedy with action, mystery with Crime and what do you get? This little beauty.
Straight off the bat, I LOVE Hot Fuzz. Simon Pegg and Nick Frost in my opinion are one of the best in partnerships when it comes to humour at the moment. They were fantastic in Shaun of the Dead and keep up that wry humour in this.
The plot (in simple terms)- Jealous colleagues of London cop, Nicholas Angel work together to transfer him to the small town of Sanford where he is paired with idiotic but well intentioned partner, Danny Butterman. Whilst on the job, the pair stumble across a series of suspicious accidents leading Angel to believe something more sinister is at work.
I really do love this film. There are flaws that I could point out but as this keeps my attention and packs with comedy punches I have no need to find them. You want serious? Run like the wind! :D but if you want biting edge comedy with an healthy dose of horror, then this is a movie to be sought out.
ACTORS
Simon Pegg as 'Nicholas Angel': (starred in RUN FAT BOY RUN, SHAUN OF THE DEAD & BIG NOTHING). This guy is wonderful. The fact he can play the comedy as both dry and sarcastic along with a serious nature is characterisation of the skills he can bring to a role. He was made to play Nicholas Angel and makes the role his own. Awesome actor at the peak of his game.
Nick Frost as 'Danny Butterman': (starred in SHAUN OF THE DEAD & THE BOAT THAT ROCKED), paired with Simon he is just as brilliant. In SOTD he was fantastic as lazy but loveable Ed and as the rather incompetent Danny in this he is just as great. Bringing his brand of humour into the movie he takes a simple character and adds an extra depth. Wonderfully funny in this.
Special mention ought to go to Jim Broadbent for his role of 'Inspector Frank Butterman'. A beautiful actor in the individual roles he has taken under his belt prior to this he creates a funny but insane character and does so well. Perfect IMO.
Loved, LOVED the music! The Fratellis, Dire Straits? I was in paradise the moment the music pumped up. Fast, hectic and loud it was brilliant. That said the softer musical accompaniments were just as welcoming and helped soften the pace when required. Cinematography etc was classic, for example one scene involving blood in a generous amount was made more fun by using a solitude camera with blood splattered on to add more of an effect, that meshed with a village where use of dark and light was used to tone are brilliant in the effectiveness of making Sanford look even more creepy.
Gore? Considering this is not pure laced horror there were some great moments when the blood flowed and the deaths were inventive. I have to love Wright's use of the blood splatter and gore in general. The guy knows his stuff!
In truth there is so much to recommend this movie.
Throughout the movie several lines made me chuckle, for example Danny saying, "By the power of Greyskull!" is just fantastic and chuckle-worthy.
The finale was the coup de gras of the entire movie. Goosebumps lined up my arms and down my legs as I watched Angel come back to finish unfinished business was blisteringly awesome. It was the finale I wanted and what I got so I cannot complain, which also brings me to this. The last few scenes are brilliant! So many times in a movie, the action is non-stop then the ending comes and everything slows down to a tepid ending, not this movie!
Truly they go out in Hot Fuzz style right up till the last shattering second. No calmness but more franticness.
I love British humour. From "Shaun of the Dead" to "The Full Monty" I am proud to be who I am and this movie just made me prouder of that fact.
If you want quiet intelligence and thought-provoking then this might be one to put on hold but if you love a strange sense of humour. Awesome action scenes and morbid humour in all it's glory then damn! are you in luck. This is a movie that must be in your collection!
Perfect with the lights off, sound turned way up and plenty of sweets and pop you will have such a rip-roaring time.
We need more movies of this calibre! In closing all I have to say is brilliant dark movie that packs a major punch.
Now and again in our lives we all need a little Hot Fuzz! Respect.