Hot Fuzz

Hot Fuzz
source
Name	Hot Fuzz
Caption	Theatrical release poster
Director	Edgar Wright
Producer	Tim Bevan, Eric Fellner, Nira Park
Writer	Edgar Wright, Simon Pegg
Starring	Simon Pegg, Nick Frost, Jim Broadbent, Timothy Dalton, Paddy Considine, Rafe Spall, Olivia Colman, Bill Nighy
Music	David Arnold
Cinematography	Jess Hall
Editing	Chris Dickens
Studio	Working Title Films, Big Talk Productions
Distributor	Universal Pictures, StudioCanal
Released	2007, 02, 14, United Kingdom, 2007, 04, 20, United States
Runtime	121 minutes
Country	United Kingdom
Language	English
Budget	$12 million
Gross	$80.7 million

Hot Fuzz is a 2007 British action comedy film directed by Edgar Wright and written by Wright and Simon Pegg. The second installment in the Three Flavours Cornetto trilogy, it follows an overachieving London police sergeant who is transferred to a seemingly idyllic village, where he uncovers a sinister conspiracy. The film satirizes the conventions of Hollywood action cinema while paying homage to the genre, featuring a large ensemble cast and meticulously crafted action sequences.

Plot

Exceptional Metropolitan Police Sergeant Nicholas Angel is reassigned from London to the quiet market town of Sandford in Gloucestershire, a move orchestrated by his jealous superiors. Partnered with the well-meaning but inept PC Danny Butterman, son of Inspector Frank Butterman, Angel is frustrated by the mundane nature of local policing. A series of grisly, staged "accidents" befall several residents, leading Angel to suspect murder. His investigation is obstructed by the complacent Neighbourhood Watch Alliance and the smug local businessman Simon Skinner. After discovering a secret conspiracy to preserve the village's perfection for the "Village of the Year" competition, Angel and Butterman engage in a spectacular, explosive confrontation with the entire town at the local supermarket, Somerfield.

Cast

* Simon Pegg as Sergeant Nicholas Angel * Nick Frost as PC Danny Butterman * Jim Broadbent as Inspector Frank Butterman * Timothy Dalton as Simon Skinner * Paddy Considine as DS Andy Wainwright * Rafe Spall as DC Andy Cartwright * Olivia Colman as PC Doris Thatcher * Bill Nighy as Chief Inspector Kenneth * Billie Whitelaw as Joyce Cooper * Edward Woodward as Tom Weaver * Karl Johnson as PC Bob Walker * Paul Freeman as Rev. Philip Shooter * Stuart Wilson as Dr. Robin Hatcher * David Threlfall as Martin Blower * Anne Reid as Leslie Tiller * David Bradley as Arthur Webley * Adam Buxton as Tim Messenger * Julia Deakin as Mary Porter * Lucy Punch as Eve Draper * Rory McCann as Michael "Lurch" Armstrong * Kevin Eldon as Sergeant Tony Fisher * Peter Wight as Roy Porter * Eric Mason as Bernard Cooper

Production

Following the success of Shaun of the Dead, Edgar Wright and Simon Pegg sought to create a film that transplanted the aesthetics of American action movies into a quintessentially English setting. The script was developed with extensive research, including ride-alongs with real police officers in Somerset. Principal photography took place in 2006, with the village of Wells serving as the primary location for Sandford; key scenes were also shot at the Blenheim Palace estate. The action sequences were heavily storyboarded and choreographed, with Jess Hall's cinematography and Chris Dickens's rapid-fire editing mimicking the style of films like Bad Boys II and Point Break. The score by David Arnold blends orchestral themes with electronic elements.

Themes and analysis

The film is a dense satire of action movie tropes, juxtaposing the hyper-competence of its protagonist with the absurd parochialism of English village life. Central themes include the nature of friendship, the cult of professionalism, and the dark side of enforced community harmony, critiquing the idea of "the greater good." It extensively utilizes intertextuality, referencing a wide array of films from The Wicker Man to Hard Boiled. The dynamic between Angel and Butterman explores cinematic obsession, with Danny's love of Hollywood blockbusters ultimately providing the tactical inspiration for the film's climax. The narrative structure mirrors a traditional police procedural before escalating into a full-scale homage to the works of directors like John Woo and Michael Bay.

Release and reception

Hot Fuzz premiered in London on 14 February 2007 before its wide release in the United Kingdom by Universal Pictures. It debuted at number one at the UK box office and was a major commercial success, grossing over $80 million worldwide against a $12 million budget. Critical reception was overwhelmingly positive, with praise directed at its sharp screenplay, energetic direction, and the performances of Simon Pegg and Nick Frost. The film was nominated for several awards, including the Hugo Award for Best Dramatic Presentation and a BAFTA Award for Best British Film. It has since attained significant cult status and is frequently cited as one of the best British comedies of the 21st century, cementing the creative partnership between Wright and Pegg.

Category:2007 films Category:British action comedy films Category:Films directed by Edgar Wright