Hot Fuzz (2007) 10th Anniversary

Back in October of 2014, I made a quick review for Shaun of the Dead(2004) and tied it in for it’s 10th Anniversary. So now, I wanted to celebrate the 10 year anniversary of Hot Fuzz(2007), the second installment in Edgar Wright’s Three Flavors Cornetto Trilogy. The movie was released on February 14, 2007, but the North American release was on April 20th, so that’s why I’m posting this today. Nicholas Angel is a by-the-book police sergeant who is transferred from the city to the countryside town of Sanford. While most things seem quiet and neat, Angel becomes suspicious of the town’s punctuality, Neighborhood Watch, and his new precinct. With the help of Police Constable Danny Butterman, they both uncover the sinister plot of Sanford’s picturesque reputation.

This actually won’t be a review because this movie has already gotten so much praise, that I feel I wouldn't really be saying anything new about. But I will say that the film is one of the greatest homages to the action genre. In most buddy cop movies, a lot of the comedy comes from the relationship of the two characters and really nothing else. Everything else you see is pretty bland and paint by numbers. Even in The Other Guys(2010) and 21 Jump Street(2012), two buddy cop movies I really love, the case they’re working on isn’t in the forefront and everything regarding it is rushed and underdeveloped. Hot Fuzz makes sure to tie the two elements together, so the mystery that they’re trying to solve is genuinely interesting. That is why it’s such a great genre movie, its able to parody itself with a purpose, not just reference other action movies for the fun of it. In fact the comedy mostly comes from the visuals, like subtle references that’ll escape you on a first watch. You can have a field day trying to find every little Easter egg and visual gag. It’s no wonder why it’s everyone’s favorite of the Cornetto Trilogy.

-Jose Barr (4-20-2017)

FUN Facts

Filmed in Director Edgar Wright’s hometown

While filming, Simon Pegg and Nick Frost were actually mistaken for real police offers a number of times