Like Shawn of the Dead did with zombie movies, Hot Fuzz has done with cop movies.
Nicholas Angel is the finest cop London has to offer, with an arrest record 400% higher than any other officer on the force. He’s so good, he makes everyone else look bad. As a result, Angel’s superiors send him to a place where his talents won’t be quite so embarrassing – the sleepy and seemingly crime-free village of Sandford. Once there, he is partnered with the well-meaning but overeager police officer Danny Butterman. The son of amiable Police Chief Frank Butterman, Danny is a huge action movie fan and believes his new big-city partner might just be a real-life “bad boy,” and his chance to experience the life of gunfights and car chases he so longs for. Angel is quick to dismiss this as childish fantasy and Danny’s puppy-like enthusiasm only adds to Angel’s growing frustration. However, as a series of grisly accidents rocks the village, Angel is convinced that Sandford is not what it seems and as the intrigue deepens, Danny’s dreams of explosive, high-octane, car-chasing, gunfighting, all-out action seem more and more like a reality. It’s time for these small-town cops to break out some big-city justice. – from IMDB.com’s plot outline of Hot Fuzz
Opening night, one of my (I’m not going to say old, especially since we are the same age – now) good friend and I went to see Hot Fuzz. Well, it was opening night for the movie here in the States and I had been waiting and anticipating to see it since I heard it was in production. I had been teased by the streaming Virgin Radio UK that plays in my office. It had premiered in England a few months before it came to America. It was a combination of really wanting to see the movie, getting a babysitter for the kiddies and needing some time to unwind from the oddly stressful week that I actually went to see it opening weekend. I’m usually the kind of person who sees a movie the second weekend but this was an exception.
Ever since I saw Shawn of the Dead, I have become a fan of Simon Pegg (Nicholas Angel/writer), Nick Frost (Danny Butterman) and Edgar Wright (director/writer). I have watched them in Spaced and Hyperdrive on BBC America and I could see where they got much of Shawn from it. I loved it when Simon Pegg was on Doctor Who (and was bummed to find out that scheduling problems kept him from playing the part of Pete Tyler, Rose’s Dad but that’s another review in itself.)
Hot Fuzz had the same feel as Shawn of the Dead but it also felt like those who dared to have a second go at making a movie had grown and matured a bit (little bit). Simon and Nick are no longer the goal-less “losers” from Shawn. Simon’s role was a quite the opposite and Nick’s was catching up, at his own pace.
There was much less blood in Hot Fuzz, with the exception of one comically bloody scene and a double decapitation. There are many murders but there are no zombies eating someone’s innards in this flick. This is a “cop movie” not a “zombie movie”. There are also cameos by Peter Jackson (Santa) and Cate Blanchett (his ex-girlfriend) , but if you blink you’ll miss them. Yarp, they even cast their Moms’ as the judges that show up in the end.
Even though it is rated R, I would feel pretty comfortable allowing my ten year old son to watch this movie, as long as I watched it first just to be sure.
If you like cop movies or British movies, I totally recommend this movie, especially with a small group of friends in need of a good laugh and maybe even with a beer or two.
I bought the DVD and there are really cool bonus features. My recommendation is to watch the movie twice. Once, just regular (with out any added features) and then watch it again with the “Fuzz Facts” turned on. This feature includes things like the names of shooting locations and the music used in the scene but also fun little things about the movie as well. Also, don’t forget to look at Danny’s Notebook.
Buy the movie to support those who make movies that make us laugh and let us not think for two hours or so. With all the craziness in our lives, we need more movies like this!
I leave you with one word – SWAN!
