Hot Fuzz

Last night I watched “Hot Fuzz”. It is a British action/comedy film produced by Simon Pegg , Edgar Wright and Nick Frost (also responsible for movies “Shaun of the dead” and “Run Fat Boy Run”). It is a spoof based on numerous action movies. The movie begins with Officer Nicholas Angel being brought into his superior’s office. He is a decorated officer and believes he is being offered a promotion. However, he is informed that he is being transferred to the country.

When sergeant arrives to the small town of Sanford, he is astonished at the lack of policing. Sanford seems like the perfect town however, with no crime. As the movie progresses, accidents began to occur. These accidents are very obviously murder to Nicholas. He and his partner, the action movie obsessed Sgt. Danny Butterman set out to solve the murders and uncover a conspiracy.

Towards the end of the movie, Nicholas discovers that all the key members of the town (also the Neighborhood Watch Alliance) have formed a group that kills any person who attempts to disrupt the peace of the town. He and his partner ban together, and take the bad guys down… this are achieved through a montage of famous action movies with many hilarious spoofs. In the end, Nicholas decides to stay in Sanford, realizing there is plenty of crime and excitement in small towns!

The clearest negative aspect of this movie is the stereotypical depiction of small-town life. I have lived in large cities my whole life, and have made a few of these assumptions myself. After living in Carbondale for a few years, I realize these are all generalizations. Hot Fuzz depicts the Sanford police force as being bumbling idiots. They make bets about citizens, sexually harass the female police officer, and allow the Neighborhood Watch Alliance to make all decisions concerning crimes. The only actor and actress in the town are depicted as being sexually promiscuous and air-headed. All of the citizens are made to seem untrustworthy, suggesting that small towns are corrupt and bent on hiding the ghosts in their closets. However, the movie makes these stereotypical jokes to poke fun at those who make generalization about small-towns. I really enjoyed “Hot Fuzz”. I suggest that before watching it, you watch “Shaun of the Dead” by the same production group.

Niki