Former London constable Nicholas Angel finds it difficult to adapt to his new assignment in the sleepy British village of Sandford. Not only does he miss the excitement of the big city, but he also has a well-meaning oaf for a partner. However, when a series of grisly accidents rocks Sandford, Angel smells something rotten in the idyllic village.
Simon Pegg
Nicholas Angel
Nick Frost
PC Danny Butterman
Jim Broadbent
Inspector Frank Butterman
Paddy Considine
DS Andy Wainwright
Rafe Spall
DC Andy Cartwright
Kevin Eldon
Sergeant Tony Fisher
Olivia Colman
PC Doris Thatcher
Bill Bailey
Sergeant Turner
Karl Johnson
PC Bob Walker
Timothy Dalton
Simon Skinner
Edward Woodward
Tom Weaver
Billie Whitelaw
Joyce Cooper
Stuart Wilson
Dr. Robin Hatcher
Paul Freeman
Rev. Philip Shooter
Rory McCann
Michael Armstrong
Kenneth Cranham
James Reaper
Maria Charles
Mrs. Reaper
Peter Wight
Roy Porter
Julia Deakin
Mary Porter
Eric Mason
Bernard Cooper
Trevor Nichols
Greg Prosser
Elizabeth Elvin
Sheree Prosser
Patricia Franklin
Annette Roper
Lorraine Hilton
Amanda Paver
Tim Barlow
Mr. Treacher
Anne Reid
Leslie Tiller
Adam Buxton
Tim Messenger
David Threlfall
Martin Blower
Lucy Punch
Eve Draper
David Bradley
Arthur Webley
Ron Cook
George Merchant
Alice Lowe
Tina
Martin Freeman
Met Sergeant
Bill Nighy
Met Chief Inspector
Stephen Merchant
Peter Ian Staker
Ben McKay
Peter Cocker
Robert Popper
'Not' Janine
Joe Cornish
Bob
Chris Waitt
Dave
Colin Michael Carmichael
Heston Services Clerk
Tom Strode Walton
Underage Drinker #1
Troy Woollan
Underage Drinker #2
Rory Lowings
Underage Drinker #3
Nicholas Wilson
Butcher Brother
Kevin Wilson
Butcher Brother
Graham Low
The Living Statue
Alexander King
Aaron A. Aaronson
Cate Blanchett
Janine (uncredited)
Steve Coogan
Metropolitan Police Inspector (uncredited)
Peter Jackson
Thief Dressed as Father Christmas (uncredited)
Garth Jennings
Crack Addict (uncredited)
Edgar Wright
Shelf Stacker / Voice of Dave (uncredited)
Lesley Wright
Village of The Year Judge (uncredited)
Peter Wild
Village of The Year Judge (uncredited)
Gillian Rosemary Smith
Village of The Year Judge (uncredited)
Director, Screenplay
Edgar Wright
Screenplay
Simon Pegg
August 28, 2014
10
Homage or parody, Hot Fuzz is the best of modern British comedy.
Police Constable Nicholas Angel is the pride of the London Service, trouble is is that he is making everybody else look bad, so much so his superiors promote him to Sergeant in the sleepy village of Sandford, Gloucestershire. Yet all is not right with Sandford as the locals start meeting grizzly deaths, thus thrusting Angel into his biggest case so far.
The biggest question on most film goers lips was could the pairing of Edgar Wright and Simon Pegg triumphantly follow the monster cult success of Shaun Of The Dead? Well the plot premise for Hot Fuzz hardly leaps out as something to grab the attention span of many, but they have crafted a tremendously funny film that winks at the action genre with genuine love and admiration.
Simon Pegg and his trusty sidekick, Nick Frost, clearly have an earthbound appeal that many (even outside of Britain) can warm too, not pretty or over svelt, these guys are fans of movies making movies purely for the fans, and it shows. Neither Pegg or Frost try to steal scenes from each other, both men after over a decade of working together are clearly comfortable with their coupling and thus manage to fine tune their working chemistry.
Once Angel (Pegg) lands at Sandford Village we are introduced to a ream of British Village stereotypes (archetypes actually), all characters ripe for hilarious scenarios that our fish out water (big city cop) Sergeant struggles to comprehend. We observe as he is dumb struck at the ineptitude of the Village Police Force (erm service actually) and is then forced to work alongside dough eyed Constable Butterman (a film stealing Frost). Angel's exasperation at where he finds himself is mirthful joy to us the viewers. The dialogue is priceless, one liners and hat tipping nods to the action genre come thick and fast, in fact you can watch Hot Fuzz repeatedly and play spot the homage each time. I mean come on people, we got both James Bond (a delicious turn from Timothy Dalton) and Belloq in here strutting their stuff. The action set pieces are not found wanting either, director Wright having the time of his life with the crash bang wallop that flows in the final third.
The test of a great comedy is how it stands up to repeat viewings, to me Hot Fuzz delivers no matter how many times it is viewed. For even when you know what is coming up next, the smile on your face is already there before the event, wonderful, wonderful film made by guys who love movies as much as ourselves. 10/10