Hot Fuzz Review

Having made the superb "Shaun Of The Dead" a couple of years ago, the team of Simon Pegg and Edgar Wright have certainly set the bar high for themselves. But fortunately this high-octane cop comedy proves that Pegg and Wright are made of the right stuff when it comes to those notoriously difficult second projects. The action sees Pegg playing super cop Nick Angel, a Met officer who is transferred to the sleepy village of Sandford in Somerset because his arrest numbers are making his big city peers look bad. At first Nick is stuck investigating minor incidents such as am errant swan and a small time shoplifter with his nice-but-dim partner Danny (Nick Frost). But when a series of macabre 'accidents' grab the local headlines, Nick suspects there may be more to them and sets out to investigate.

Where "Shaun Of The Dead" was maybe 75% comedy / 25% horror, "Hot Fuzz" is far more evenly balanced between action and gags. Pegg plays it largely straight as Angel, leaving it up to Frost to get the laughs with his delivery and physicality. But when it all kicks off, both of them are quick to strap on the hardware and blow the living bejesus out of anything that does - or doesn't - move. As always, there's a great chemistry between the pair and there are plenty of throwaway reference to their previous work (Cornetto anyone?) to keep fans happy.

By incorporating a cracking supporting cast, including Timothy Dalton, Billie Whitelaw and the crème of the British comedy crop, director Wright has ensured that "Hot Fuzz" is destined to become another cult classic. Admittedly some of his editing may leave you a little dizzy but this is still a cracking ride.