DVD Pick of the Week: Hot Fuzz

This week delivers two of the best films of 2007, along with a few other interesting titles. The biggest problem with all of these releases each week is finding the time to watch them all. There is only so much time in the day that one can devote to the shiny disks of joy. Sometimes you just have to forgo the niceties of life, food, car, family, just so you can make the time to fit in all that you want to see. I kid, of course, but there are so many movies and shows to watch that it is very easy for your eyes to get bigger than your watch. Still, we all do what we can. This week's releases are sure to take up a little bit of that time.

This week's choice was rather tough, as favorites from earlier this year arrive on store shelves. On one hand we have the fictional take of the Battle of Thermopylae, and on the other hand there is the love letter to action films, and the hilarity that results. It was a tough choice, but if you read the title of the column, you already know the winner of this battle, but believe me, it was very close. Oh yes, if you didn't read the title, the winner is Hot Fuzz.

Simon Pegg stars as Nicholas Angel, a straight-laced, by the book police officer. He is a man who is very good at what he does; unfortunately, he is too good at what he does. Because of his prolific arrest record, he is given a promotion which forces a change of scenery, you see — the rest of the force are tired of looking bad in the wake of his success, so this is a conspiracy to allow them to shine. Angel ends up in a small town with low crime and a rather high number if accidents. Angel sees that something is up, and he takes his goofy partner, played by Nick Frost, and attempts to get to the bottom of things.

I really don't want to spoil it, so I will refrain from any further plot description. Suffice to say that the movie is the perfect balance of story, character, and humor. The cliches that are so prevalent in these types of films are skillfully skewered here yet feel so natural in service to the plot. It is a satire poking fun at action films and gun culture that admires them just as much as it mocks them. This is what a satire should be.

Article Author: Chris Beaumont

Christopher Beaumont spends much of his time writing about music and movies when he isn't indulging in them. He is always ready to talk about his favorite form of entertainment and offer up recommendations. Follow: Twitter and Tumblr. Visit: Critical Outcast. …

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