Hot Fuzz

Edgar Wright mightily kicks Michael Bay’s ass, burying all conventions and correctness under tons of unique ideas, and leaving the diabolical Simon Pegg to mow down his enemies in an even more uncompromising manner than Bruce Willis in his prime. The film is a unique demonstration that properly referenced, honored, or parodied genre fiction can royally entertain. Unfortunately, this creates an unpleasant issue on the way to the viewer's heart, which may be ordinary ignorance of film action. It’s a simple equation: the more classic films you've seen, the more fun you'll have. (13/05/2007)

To be clear, I love horseshit, intentionally and unintentionally funny B-movies and parodies full of references, but there was nothing here. As with the previous Shaun of the Dead, I'm experiencing a slight déjà-vu. Wright's hammy humour bores me immensely, his editing epileptic jerks irritate me and quotes alone do not make a good film. The whole film leaves a sour taste on the tongue with a question directed at Edgar Wright: “What the fuck is this guy doing?” (25/06/2007)

Hot Fuzz is to action movies what Shaun of the Dead should have been to zombie horror, i.e. a half parody of the genre on the one hand, and a proud representative thereof on the other. Unlike Shaun of the Dead, Edgar Wright manages to make things work out and the result is a very good and remarkable film with humour, a (horror) twist and sharp action. Basically, without complaints. (27/06/2010)

A great action comedy where everything is a bit exaggerated, but at the same time, it is excellently constructed as both a parody and a standalone functioning film. Simon Pegg and Nick Frost simply fit together, just as Edgar Wright fits with them. This collaboration of these three personalities of contemporary British cinema is the best they have ever been responsible for. (13/03/2014)

Genius films are those that can balance exactly on the edge, so if any ingredient were added just a little bit, it could turn into a failure from a great success. During the first half of the film, I had a great time and it could have been the comedy of the year for me. The precisely calibrated exaggeration on the topic of an overly enthusiastic police officer within an established bureaucratic machinery was not only functional but divine. Similarly, the confrontation between the big city and the sleepy small-town environment where everyone knows each other very well. Unfortunately, in the second half, the creators felt the need to add. Practically everything. As we know, too much of anything is harmful, and thus it turned into a rather average absurd farce. The moment the army of murdering psychopaths appeared and the dialogues took on the dimension of British nonsense, the charm of the film was lost for me. I would give the first half a rating of 100%, the second half 50%, and overall 75%. (26/10/2007)