Post by •°o.O emily O.o°• on Apr 8, 2007 18:15:20 GMT
I went to see this film with high expectations after Shaun of the Dead in '04, which is one of the best british black-comedies to emerge since American Werewolf in London 23 years previously, and was a little anxious in case it didn't live up to them. It turned out to be just as funny and a little more ambitious and fast-paced than it's predecessor.
The story is simple; exceptional workaholic Met cop is relocated to middle-of-nowhere village in which he is initially frustrated but finds that not all is as it seems... with the same SOTD team at the wheel (Edgar Wright, Simon Pegg plus Nick Frost) the tone is action+gore+not taking itself seriously, and the pace and plot are much faster than SOTD. The same quirky quick cuts are used to imply the hard hitting police activities, and there are some touching moments, faboulous action sequences and gruesome crimes while the film remains deliciously ironic throughout. The humour is very much British - a shootout in Somerfields, the foreign language that is west country talk, the village culture of Fetes and Church and Neighbourhood Watch (and eating cake). Some of the best british actors are crammed in (such as Bill Nighy, Steve Coogan and Martin Freeman all in one room) and the performances are entertaining. Slick filming, satisfying jokes and the obvious enjoyment by the SOTD team make for a great film...but I could ramble on about the techniques and wit of Hot Fuzz when the real point is - I was still slightly disappointed. Although it is really a development of what Shaun achieved, the whole film gave me a sense of de ja vu. There are many similarities between the films; Frost and Pegg's relationship, the sacrificing to save your mate at the end, the ineptitude in love with the main character, the running jokes, the boyish humour behind the plot.....although Hot Fuzz is in many ways a more advanced film than Shaun, it doesn't achieve anything new, and my only worry is that this team will keep making the same film in different genres. Saying that, they have an eye for perfect visual exposition, and you should go and watch it for yourself (ignore the mixed reactions) and let me know if you disagree in any way.
4 stars **** lets hope they apply their talents to something different next time ;D
The story is simple; exceptional workaholic Met cop is relocated to middle-of-nowhere village in which he is initially frustrated but finds that not all is as it seems... with the same SOTD team at the wheel (Edgar Wright, Simon Pegg plus Nick Frost) the tone is action+gore+not taking itself seriously, and the pace and plot are much faster than SOTD. The same quirky quick cuts are used to imply the hard hitting police activities, and there are some touching moments, faboulous action sequences and gruesome crimes while the film remains deliciously ironic throughout. The humour is very much British - a shootout in Somerfields, the foreign language that is west country talk, the village culture of Fetes and Church and Neighbourhood Watch (and eating cake). Some of the best british actors are crammed in (such as Bill Nighy, Steve Coogan and Martin Freeman all in one room) and the performances are entertaining. Slick filming, satisfying jokes and the obvious enjoyment by the SOTD team make for a great film...but I could ramble on about the techniques and wit of Hot Fuzz when the real point is - I was still slightly disappointed. Although it is really a development of what Shaun achieved, the whole film gave me a sense of de ja vu. There are many similarities between the films; Frost and Pegg's relationship, the sacrificing to save your mate at the end, the ineptitude in love with the main character, the running jokes, the boyish humour behind the plot.....although Hot Fuzz is in many ways a more advanced film than Shaun, it doesn't achieve anything new, and my only worry is that this team will keep making the same film in different genres. Saying that, they have an eye for perfect visual exposition, and you should go and watch it for yourself (ignore the mixed reactions) and let me know if you disagree in any way.
4 stars **** lets hope they apply their talents to something different next time ;D