Comedy
2 hours and 1 minute
Rated: R
Written by: Edgar Wright & Simon Pegg
Directed by: Edgar Wright
Produced by: Tim Bevan, Eric Fellner, and Nira Park
Cast:
Simon Pegg
Nick Frost
When the heat is on, you gotta call the fuzz.
Over the past decade, British filmmaker Edgar Wright has earned a considerably large fan base. Known specifically for comedies, it comes as no shock to learn that Wright's fan base includes similar filmmakers such as Quentin Tarantino and Robert Rodriguez. Wright comes from the school of filmmaking that caters strictly to film fans - and by no means is it a bad school to come from.
Hot Fuzz, Wright's third feature film - came at a time when Wright had gained notoriety for his highly successful horror/comedy Shaun of the Dead, also starring Simon Pegg and Nick Frost. Where Shaun of the Dead was Wright's love letter to American-made zombie films, Hot Fuzz on surface levels is his love letter to American-made action films. The film blatantly references the buddy-cop action thrillers of the 1990s, including Point Break and the Bad Boys franchise. But what is perhaps more subtle is Hot Fuzz' references to horror films set in rural England.
The film references Peckinpah's Straw Dogs throughout the story, stating that a background character played an extra in Straw Dogs - and its excessive violence showcased in a peaceful rural English countryside can be drawn as a parallel to Peckinpah's film. The connection of the N.W.A. working for "the greater good" of their community can be directly linked to the pagan Scottish cult in Robin Hardy's The Wicker Man - who give into human sacrifice in order to serve "the greater good" of their small village. Indeed, this is further solidified by the presence of actor Edward Woodward in both Hot Fuzz and The Wicker Man. And lastly, the film directly homages Richard Donner's The Omen with the reporter being impaled by a piece of a church's roof - the same fate suffered by Father Brennan in The Omen.
While these horror references are too subtle to be noticed at first glance, they are blatant in their belonging to the film - showcasing Wright's heavy influence by American-made action films, as well as his influence in the less frequented genre of British-based horror films.
The editing (Chris Dickens) and cinematography (Jess Hall) work wonderfully, utilizing quick cuts and handheld shots for such trivial occurrences as the characters' purchasing an ice cream cone. It is apparent here that Wright is familiar with the technical aspects of what makes an action film work.
The fight sequences are astoundingly set up, effectively exploiting their unbelievability in order to draw in more laughs. By the time the banter between the two main characters' has become excessive, the humor effectively switches gears. The plot is explained in a dumbed-down version of what was really going on in the village (speaking to the simple plots of films like The Wicker Man), and shoot-outs between fit young police officers and old civilians take up the last thirty minutes of the film.
The acting is wonderful, and the cast is more than capable. Frost and Pegg already proved their onscreen chemistry with Shaun of the Dead, and other standout performances from the supporting cast include: Stuart Wilson, Jim Broadbent, and Edward Woodward (who, as mentioned, played the lead character in The Wicker Man). But the greatest performance in the film is delivered by Shakespearean veteran Timothy Dalton. Dalton, who is undeniably best known for playing James Bond from 1987 to 1989, based on his credentials, is one of the greatest - if not the greatest - actor of his generation. His presence in the film evidently encouraged the other cast members to step up their games, bringing out the best in his costars. This is evidenced by the scenes featuring dialogue between Dalton and Pegg showcasing Pegg's talent in a serious role. Dalton also proves himself still a capable actor for action films, showcasing his talent at stunt work in the film's action-packed finale. It's incredible that Dalton hasn't received much mainstream work since his James Bond days, considering his undeniable talent.
Despite a few unbelievability issues to the plot, Hot Fuzz is a wonderful action/comedy that is able to triumph over its minor problems due to the incredible performances by its iconic supporting cast, as well as its references and allusions to American-made action films and British-based horror films.
8/10
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