Print friendly
E-mail story
Contact an Editor
iPod friendly
Comments
Bookmark This
del.icio.us.
Digg!
furl
google
newsvine
reddit
technorati
Facebook
Yahoo!The team behind 2004’s cult sensation, Shaun of the Dead, have certainly come a long way in a short time, and the follow-up to that highly enjoyable zombie film parody is Hot Fuzz. This time their sights are set on over-the-top action pictures, with an emphasis on buddy cop films. (Bad Boys 2 and Point Break are favorite targets). But whereas zombie films are an easy target for clever filmmakers like director Edgar Wright and writer/star Simon Pegg, buddy cop pictures don’t have the same basic tropes. And in many ways, a film like Bad Boys 2 is so outrageous on its own merits that it doesn’t really need someone to poke fun at it. Any sophisticated viewer can already have tons of fun with the film.
Hot Fuzz is also hampered by poor pacing. The faster-than-you-can-spot-them references to popular films worked best in Wright and Pegg’s first project, the UK television series Spaced. Shaun of the Dead’s 100-minute runtime was too long, and at two hours, Hot Fuzz is bogged down in an excruciatingly slow-moving first act, with far too much time given over to subplots and character development that never pay off. Pegg’s character, a hotshot London police officer who is reassigned to sleepy Sandford, also seems out of place. In the past, Pegg played a lovable slacker — one can imagine the role wasn’t that much of a stretch — but here he is completely unconvincing as a straitlaced cop with an impeccable record.
When the film finally bursts into action, only in its last half hour, it is a delight. Going all out in the violence and absurd catchphrase department, and of course with a healthy sense of self-awareness, the movie transforms into something special. But despite the presence of a veritable who’s who of U.K. comedy heavyweights, including Steve Coogan, Bill Bailey, and Martin Freeman, and with some legitimate acting chops added by the presence of Bill Nighy and Jim Broadbent, Hot Fuzz is the least successful of the Pegg/Wright productions to date. This is not to say that the film is bad. It is merely extremely funny, only a problem if your loyal audience is used to the outrageously hilarious.
Double-clicking on any word or phrase in this story will open a reference window with definitions and links to other reference material.
Previous Month
Comments
Discussion Guidelines
I'm shocked at your review. Hot Fuzz is hilarity and genious from beginning to end. I somewhat agree with you on pacing, but that's it. The film did feel a TINY bit long at a point, but the humor and beginning set up were great.
Wright clearly put his heart in the all the editing and using Point Break and Bad Boys II was hilarious.
You really lose all credibility when put down Shaun of The Dead, it only shows that you do not understand. You do not understand Zombies, Horror or Action. How'd you get this job again?
Carrichka (anonymous profile)
April 26, 2007 at 2:52 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I think it's funny that a lot of people have read this as a "bad review." I call the film "extremely funny" and "something special." The only thing I say about Shaun of the Dead is that it is too long, which it is. This movie is twenty minutes longer and not as funny. Pegg and Wright are completely hilarious, but each project of theirs has been less satisfying than the last. That's the only point I was making.
Also, the Point Break reference is very funny, but the fact that they have to explain the reference and actually show a clip from the movie in order for the joke to pay off is sloppy. Plus, Bill Nighy, Steve Coogan, Martin Freeman, and Bill Bailey were completely wasted, there's no question about that. Some of the funniest people in Britain and they have nothing funny to do in their brief scenes. They are the true comedy "geniouses."
maxburke (anonymous profile)
April 27, 2007 at 12:23 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Post a comment