"Hot Fuzz" (2007)

On Friday night I got to attend a special PR tour showing of the new movie "Hot Fuzz" at the Arlington Cinema & Drafthouse that pretty much kicked ass all around.

First, getting to see the new movie from the 'Shaun of the Dead' team a month before everyone else rules in its own right. But the way the presented the movie rocked too.

It was double featured with "Die Hard'! We all got to enjoy my favorite action flick on the big screen as a warm up for 'Hot Fuzz'. 'Die Hard' on the big screen is awesome - from the minute the vault opens to the end of the movie - that segment is still some of the most exciting, nail-biting action I've ever seen. I've seen 'Die Hard' on the big screen about seven times over the years, but seeing it Friday was probably the best experience with it since I saw it on opening weekend almost 20 years ago. It reminded me why I love movies all over again.

Then 'Hot Fuzz' came on and it was a riot. This movie is absolutely hilarious. It is funnier than 'Shaun of the Dead' although not quite as complete of a film. I don't want to spoil anything but I will say this - the comedy in the movie works on about 5 different levels which could make it enjoyable for just about anyone. The more levels of humor you tap into though, the better the movie is. It's kind of brilliant how they layered it.

1. For fans of 'Shaun of the Dead' - 'HF' is almost like a bizarro world image of that movie. There are a lot of references to 'Shaun' that are great but don't have to be recognized for the movie to be hilarious.

2. The action movie parody/homages in this movie are brilliant. They recreate some key scenes and camera moves from some action classics. It is simultaneously hilarious and yet an ultimate homage to the fun of the action genre. God, there is one part that is so damn perfect - I can not wait to share it with my action movie brothers.

3. The weird country bumpkin British shit - they way they collide the action genre and this sleepy British village is bizarre to great comedic effect. It's almost like a Stepford Wives feel for a while.

4. Simon Pegg and Nick Frost - these guys are an amazing on screen duo - they own the screen in 'HF' - Nick Frost is now officially my hero. Just looking at the two of them makes you laugh.

5. The ridiculous violence - it is ridiculous and it is impossible not to crack a smile when it hits.

Man, I really enjoyed this movie. The script works in so many action movie plot/structure conventions and then turns them to comedic effect it is sort of mind-boggling. I highly recommend this flick - I haven't laughed so hard in a good long while.

After the showing of 'Hot Fuzz' we got treated to a very informal and very funny Q&A with Simon Pegg, Nick Frost, and the director Edgar Wright. It was surreal seeing the stars in person and even more surreal having them dole out comic gem answers a mile a minute.

At one point Nick Frost was instructing a woman to place condoms filled with frozen feces under the floorboards of her annoying neighbor's house. Followed by Simon Pegg asking a male audience member if he was the hooker Pegg had hired the night before!

All three are extremely funny human beings and I can see how their team-work created such a hilarious movie.

Originally published on March 25, 2007.