Hot Fuzz: Review By slysnide

There have been scores of cop films throughout the ages. Most all them intense dramas which far exceed their television counterparts. When Edgar Wright & Simon Pegg decided to take on the genre for a spoof, they must've spent more hours watching cop movies than making this one. For every cliché line, plot, character, and story structure is spoofed to perfection.

Simon Pegg stars as supercop Nicholas Angel, a guy so good, he's demoted to a small village because he makes all the city cops look bad. Even racking enough points to annoy the Chief Inspector (Bill Nighy). But in this new village he meets a drunk buddy, Sergeant Danny Butterman (Nick Frost). Together they form an unlikely bond as Danny is ever in awe of Nicholas...but the brainless members of the police station who mock Angel's habit of constantly being on the prowl for criminals like shoplifters, underage drinkers, and runaway swans the likes of a Piss Taker help too. So already you can see the development of Angel as the unstoppable supercop, yet not nearly as dorky as "Robocop" (1987) or "Police Story 3: Supercop" (1992).

Their Inspector, Danny's father Frank (Jim Broadbent) is the typical jolly English guy with not a thing to worry about, stressing the motto "The greater good" to dismiss any criminal negligence left and right. But being the simpleton that he is, it's all too funny. But not nearly as hilarious as the likes of Professor Tom Weaver (Edward Woodward) whom heads the Neighborhood Watch Alliance. The connotation to the rap group 'Niggaz With Attitude" comes off more blatantly as they think they run the place, freaking out over the most miniscule of things to the laughter of Inspector Frank. But placing Edward Woodward atop the totem of the community group plays well comedically because Nicholas is very much like his character from "The Wicker Man" (1973) in that he's thrust into a very alien place that seems too old fashioned for his liking or exceptional abilities.

Other villagers include packin' farmers like Arthur Webley (David Bradley), Reverend Philip Shooter (Paul Freeman) whom is somewhat unremarkable, but who can tell what preachers have up their sleeves these days to coax trust from unsuspecting victims. The hotel clerk Joyce Cooper (Billie Whitelaw) comes off as a Hag, or was it a fascist? Doctor Robin Hatcher (Stuart Wilson) is a doctor, so he can luckily deal with it. Mr. Treacher, now the real guy Tim Barlow lost his hearing testing a high Muzzle Velocity Rifle for the British Army, so he's a really intimidating pedestrian. Mrs. Porter (Julie Deakins) by the way is actually 53, but is said to be 55. Journalist Tim Merchant (Adam Buxton) can't get the simplest grammar correct. Florist Leslie Tiller (Anne Reid) is just a nut job, and George Merchant (Ron Cook) has got the richest house on the block. But horrid actors Martin Blower (David Threlfall) and Eve Draper (Lucy Punch) take the cake as the most bizarre residents.

But the guy who really steals the show, the one guy who topples all, is Somerfields Supermarket owner/manager Simon Skinner, portrayed to perfection by Timothy Dalton. Easily his best role. Ever. No joking here. You can't imagine anyone else playing this after seeing the performance. His creepy, yet eloquent sarcasm catches you off guard frequently and makes you think he must be a red herring. He's just that good. But is he? Did Wright follow the cop drama formula so much that he takes that predictable route and gets away with it because it's done so well? Or has he got another trick up his sleeve? Well, just picture this will you? Timothy Dalton with three dipsh*t employees behind him in his office while he fiendishly gazes at the security feed and delivers what's quite possibly THE BEST one liner in cinema history. He was just too perfect.

As for the cop spoofs, you can already see my references to "The Wicker Man" twice, to the traditional cop formula with the supercop. "Meet the cop, who can't be stopped." And better yet, to "Bad Boys II" (2003) and "Point Break" (1991) to describe the relationship shared by Danny and Nicholas. With the overall theme being a dainty English village version of Lethal Weapon" (1987) and any Agatha Christie murder mystery. Cause oh yeah, a bunch of bizarre 'accidents' occur which look strangely like very deliberate murders, and it's up to the London supercop to solve the case, as his brainless colleagues are just too brainless, figuring his theories to make him "such a big fan of murder." Now picture that quote in a very sarcastic, yet sloppy British accent with gum in its mouth, and you can understand what I'm talking about. With the shortest police chase ever, and the shortest time lapse between a separation of partner's over stupid pretenses proves this film never ceases to deliver the laughs! For with all his theorizing and conclusions, we could be left to surmise that "maybe they were all accidents." Or were they?

But even better yet would be the most outrageous, most unexpected, most unabashedly funny action packed climax any film has ever delivered. Seriously, it can't be topped in its hilarity which is increased all the more due to the resumes of those involved.

So overall, Edgar Wright exceeds in his writing and directorial skills, spoofing several cop films, and mocking every unique moment a cop film made cliché in the past for one of the quirkiest, and best spoofs of all time. With Simon Pegg sharing a writing credit and teaming with Nick Frost for leading roles, then you can't go wrong with this trio.