Hot Fuzz Review

        My look into Edgar Wright’s Cornetto trilogy continues. After the success of Shaun of the Dead, it made sense for both Wright and Simon Pegg to continue with their collaboration. What’s interesting is in this film is that it’s not so much of a continuation of the prior film but it’s an entirely different film altogether. From what the director says, he wanted to make a cop film since the Brits didn’t have a tradition of making action/cop films like the Americans. So it made sense for him to create one that is a tribute the only way Wright can make. I would say that this is the best entry in the trilogy. 

1. Police Farce

        So yeah, this is a completely different film that pays tribute to past films that have cops in action situations. Right from the start, we follow Nicholas Angel who’s once again played by Simon Pegg. It’s established that he’s one of the best officers in the London Police, although he’s been transferred to a small community outside the city. While I’ll talk about the evolving story in the next tab, I got to talk about all the things that Edgar Wright did right with this one. The overall M.O. for the film seemed to be to try to make the whole police experience being comedically mundane and unbelievable. 

        The funniest part is the editing with everything Nicholas does such as opening the door, making a purchase and doing the seemingly ordinary task of police paperwork. All of it is executed in a way where there’s heightened tension such as doing the paperwork and mugshot taking as disarming a time bomb. It’s hilarious and authentic to the actual profession since mostly any media of the police never shows the actual paperwork that goes into the actual aftermath of the arrest. The comedy is perfect with the execution in the editing. 

        So back to Nicholas, you would think that he’s just a mindless drone that executes his job to the perfect T. He’s a very by the book person since he takes his job seriously where you have to admire his level of awareness when reviewing security footage. His character is very different from Shaun where Nicholas isn’t a slouch in the least bit. Albeit, continuing with the seeming tradition of putting in a relationship issue for the character. At the core, he’s the film’s straight man for the ridiculousness that he’s experiencing. 

        They gave him depth instead of him being a perfect example of a police officer. It’s the tiny moments that gives him more humanity since it makes sense to get an understanding why he chose to be an officer. When we see Nicholas and his partner at the pub, Angel is asked why he chose to be a cop. All of it is in line with who our main character is, he felt inspired by his family member and he feels good about delivering justice. In a way, he’s a biotic version of Robocop when you get down to it. 

        It has to be emphasized enough where for the comedy to work is to have us be with the character and just react to the other weirdness that he encounters when he gets transferred. Like, we’re with him in the long haul and just find it odd that the place that he’s been transferred is a seemingly peaceful town where Nicholas wants to do something that just be comfortable. That’s where Nick Frost’s Danny appear as an opposite to Nicholas. Frost’s character is very in tune with the action films of the past since he confides with his partner that he wants to be like him. 

        And I love how the duo ultimately become one where Nicholas arrests Danny thinking that he was a town drunk. That encounter practically sets up the new world that Nicholas has to live with. The whole town of Sandford is seemingly normal since there’s hardly any crime just random accidents that happen to people who object to the local neighborhood watch. The police force where Nicholas is reassigned is seemingly incompetent since the whole force laughs off the accidents as that. 

2. Genre Switch

        As I mentioned earlier, the way the movie is shot and edited is reminiscent of the action/cop films of the past. To the point that Danny has an extensive collection and is a plot point for Nicholas’ growth in the story. With the ridiculousness amped up by making the seemingly mundane task of paperwork thrilling with how it’s shot and edited. One other thing that is to be shown is just how the genre switches so easily. At the start of the film, Nicholas is established as the best of the best. 

        Later in the runtime, the way the film flows is a mixture of mystery and suspense since Nicholas is curious for the town’s seemingly calm nature. Part of it feels like a horror film since the people that interacts with Nicholas is mysteriously killed by a hooded figure. All of it is great since we see Nicholas examine the crime scene that doesn’t match what actually happened. Like, there’s no careless approach with the movie to not do any quick investigation, but having it where Angel is very perceptive. 

        While I won’t give away the twist of the film, its when the whole thing turns into a conspiracy. What I will say is that Timothy Dalton is charming as a conniving civilian. The former James Bond actor for the most part has played villains in his filmography. He can pull off the seemingly innocent person, but what immediately gives it away is that he’s not very sly when it comes to saying stuff that is threatening to someone. To me it’s interesting to have someone organize a neighborhood watch and have someone on the inside of the police force. 

        After everything is revealed, it’s when it turns into a straight action film. There has been complaints that the film feels slow since there’s multiple developments with what Nicholas has seen and experienced. Like, the action doesn’t quite ramp up in the middle. When it does, it’s completely worth it. And Nicholas is wielding multiple weapons and fends off the antagonists and it’s just great. You can’t go wrong with the shootouts and the blood squibs that are used. It’s a film that demands patience and rewards the viewer with what they wanted to see. 

3. Overall

        Hot Fuzz is in my opinion the best in the Cornetto Trilogy.