HOT FUZZ REVIEW

*MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS*

Hot Fuzz, which is the second film in the 'Cornetto' trilogy (the other two films being Shaun Of The Dead and The World's End), is the best in the trilogy because it's full of humour and also features some exciting action.

The 'Cornetto' trilogy stars Simon Pegg and Nick Frost and the films are written by Pegg along with Edgar Wright who also directs. The three work really well together and it's not hard to understand why. Together, they've managed to create three successful comedies. Shaun Of The Dead, which was released in 2004, proved to be a massive success, not only at the box office, but also amongst critics and audiences worldwide. This lead to Pegg and Wright writing Hot Fuzz, which is another successful addition to the franchise. 

Top London cop, PC Nicholas Angel (Pegg) is good. Too good. And to stop the rest of his team looking bad, he is reassigned to the quiet town of Sandford. He is paired with Danny Butterman (Frost), who endlessly questions him on the action lifestyle. Everything seems quiet for Angel, until two actors are found decapitated. It is called an accident, but Angel isn't going to accept that, especially when more and more people turn up dead. Angel and Danny clash with everyone, whilst trying to uncover the truth behind the mystery of the apparent 'accidents'.

Combining action with comedy can be a tricky thing to achieve. Filmmakers need the right amount of both in orders to keep viewers satisfied. In Hot Fuzz, there's plenty of humour that makes it entertaining and there are some thrilling action sequences too. The mystery at the centre of the narrative is interesting too and adds to the comedy. The fact that all the villagers are trying to make the deaths look like accidents is one of the funniest running jokes in the film. 

Pegg and Frost's chemistry is one of the best things about this film. Frost plays an immature yet kind hearted cop who is obsessed with action films and Pegg portrays the serious Angel who is determined to uncover the truth about the 'accidental' deaths. Like in Shaun Of The Dead, the films works best when it's the two of them. I honestly had no idea how the two managed to keep a straight face in certain scenes. They're both hilarious together and I can't imagine the trilogy being as successful without either of them. This film also features some familiar faces including: Jim Broadbent who is the Inspector and also Danny's father; former James Bond, Timothy Dalton as Simon Skinner, Angel's prime suspect; Martin Freeman as Met Sergeant; Bill Nighy as the Chief Met Inspector and Lord Of The Rings director Peter Jackson in a blink-and-you'll-miss-it cameo as a man dressed as Father Christmas who stabs Angel in the hand. There's also an appearance from Cate Blanchett as Angel's ex near the beginning of the film. There's not a bad performance to be found.

Shaun Of The Dead featured a lot of gore especially toward's the film's climax and that's no different in Hot Fuzz. To be honest, when I first watched it, I was shocked at how violent this film was but, after several rewatches, I now know that the violence and gore isn't meant to scare but, instead, it now adds to the humour because of how over the top it is. I would suggest that if you're squeamish, I'd hesitate before watching this. 

Overall, the brilliant minds behind Shaun of the Dead successfully take a shot at the buddy cop genre with Hot Fuzz. The result is a bitingly satiric and hugely entertaining parody.

8/10

Read my review of 'Shaun Of The Dead' here.

Read my review of 'The World's End' here.