Want more laughs? Violence? Swans? It's all here in Hot Fuzz. Simon Pegg and Nick Frost return with Edgar Wright in the directing role in order to provide yet another hilarious film not unlike their previous film, Shaun Of The Dead. There is a lot more here than in the previous film. More actors, a bigger location, more jokes, more violence and much bigger stars used. Hot Fuzz is a huge expansion on Shaun Of The Dead.
Nicholas Angel (Simon Pegg) is the top police officer in London but the rest of the police force (including Steve Coogan, Martin Freeman and Bill Nighy) are less than happy for his success. In an act of jealousy, the force send Nicholas to the country village of Sandford, a village which hasn't had a murder in many, many years which Nicholas isn't used to. He meets Sanford's police force, run by Inspector Frank Butterman (Jim Broadbent) and he gains a new police partner Danny Butterman (Nick Frost). After Nicholas' arrival, a series of suspisious 'accidents' occur leaving Nicholas and Danny to work out what is behind them.
If Shaun Of The Dead is a parody of zombie films, then that means Hot Fuzz is a parody of buddy cop/slasher films. it shows the partnership between Nicholas and Danny, pandering to the buddy cop half, but is also incredibly violent, much like a slasher film. It manages to balance the two genres incredibly well and it is great to see a comedic take on these genres that actual works and is incredibly funny. I can only assume the third film in the Blood and Ice Cream Trilogy, At Worlds End is going to be a parody of end of the world films such as 2012 and The Day After Tomorrow.
The cast is a huge expansion on the cast of Shaun Of The Dead which featured the likes of Dylan Moran and Jessica Hynes with cameos including Martin Freeman and Matt Lucas. Now, the cast includes the likes of comedian Bill Bailey, James Bond star Timothy Dalton, and the aforementioned Jim Broadbent. That's not to say there aren't cameos featured throughout. Lord Of The Rings Director Peter Jackson, an unrecognisable Kate Blanchett and even the director Edgar Wright appear in 'blink and you miss it' moments. Hot Fuzz is a coming together of some of Britain's greatest comedic stars (and even more more serious stars).
I recall mentioning in my review for Shaun Of The Dead that there is a lot of British humour and OH MAN is it present here. It's set in a Somerset village so naturally there are going to be a lot of references to British themes. Things such as chavs (a little bit), a shoot out in a Somerfield supermarket and it can even be linked to the riots that occurred in Britain in 2011 with the idea of corrupt police (although it came out before). This shows the range of references.
Hot Fuzz takes what was made standard in Shaun Of The Dead and expands on it, making for a much funnier, bigger and better film. The expanded jokes, references, cast and violence make for a great film that really shows a more accurate representation of Britain in comparison to films such as Four Weddings and a Funeral or Notting Hill.
Verdict:
9/10
A hilarious yet violent film that expands the best of Shaun Of The Dead.
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