Now that things are settling down post-move, I've reactivated my Netflix, and will be able to once again fill my evenings with obscure movies and shows that I would never have been able to find in a store (or at least would forget to rent if I ever went into the store looking for just any movie).
First on that list: Hot Fuzz
Nicholas Angel is the finest cop on the London force. He's so good, he makes everyone else look bad. As a result, Angel's superiors feel embarassed and send him to a place where he won't be so much 'trouble' - the tiny country village of Sandford. Once there, he is partnered with the well-meaning puppy-of-a-person police officer Danny Butterman. Danny is the son of the local police chief, and a huge action movie fan ("Bad Boys II" and "Point Break" are mentioned a lot). He constantly pesters Angel with questions about the car chases and gun fights he feels he's missing out on. Meanwhile, a series of suspicious accidents start Angel thinking that Sanford isn't as quiet as it appears.
Simply put: Hys-freakin'-sterical. It's been a long long time since I laughed out loud so much during a movie (I believe the last time was "Curse of the Were-Rabbit").
The movie itself spoofs cop movies (particularly the buddy-cop-action-and-explosion-type). I love mysteries and action movies (even a lot of bad ones!), so I was having a blast recognizing scenes they were ripping from other movies. And everything is played soooo dead-pan. Wonderfully dry. :) The action scenes themselves are pretty funny, just being so over the top and so out of place in this tiny English village.
Reading reviews of this movie online (before renting it), there was a lot of comparison between this movie and "Shaun of the Dead," also by the same writer-director-actor team. I've heard it's also very funny, but being a action/cop movie fan more than a zombie movie fan, I saw this one first. I do want to see Shaun of the Dead now though :) Personally, I don't feel comparisons would be really accurate, since they're spoofing such different types of movies. Like comparing Indiana Jones and Schindler's List, since they're both directed by Steven Spielberg - just such different types of movies. Anyway, one of the reviews I read (Hollywood Reporter) made the comparison as follows: "Everyone can relate to a zombie picture, but 'Hot Fuzz' is 'Point Break' meets 'The Vicar of Dibley.' It's most unlikely that outside the U.K. the twain's devotees know one another." I guess I am that niche audience, because I found it a complete hoot. Even if you don't get a lot of the UK-specific jokes (village life, etc) there are still so many movie spoof and good lines that you'll still have a good laugh.
"By the power of Greyskull!" When someone actually uses that as an exclamation, you know it's good. 'Nuff said. I think I hurt myself laughing, that one caught me so much by surprise. (If you're not from my generation of cartoon viewership, that's what He-Man's alter ego calls out to transform into He-Man - yay early 80s cartoons!)
Overall, my rating: 5 of 5. May not be everyone's sense of humor, so no guarantee on how much you'll like it, but when I have to rewind the movie several times because I've laughed through the next joke, I know it's good.
First on that list: Hot Fuzz
Nicholas Angel is the finest cop on the London force. He's so good, he makes everyone else look bad. As a result, Angel's superiors feel embarassed and send him to a place where he won't be so much 'trouble' - the tiny country village of Sandford. Once there, he is partnered with the well-meaning puppy-of-a-person police officer Danny Butterman. Danny is the son of the local police chief, and a huge action movie fan ("Bad Boys II" and "Point Break" are mentioned a lot). He constantly pesters Angel with questions about the car chases and gun fights he feels he's missing out on. Meanwhile, a series of suspicious accidents start Angel thinking that Sanford isn't as quiet as it appears.
Simply put: Hys-freakin'-sterical. It's been a long long time since I laughed out loud so much during a movie (I believe the last time was "Curse of the Were-Rabbit").
The movie itself spoofs cop movies (particularly the buddy-cop-action-and-explosion-type). I love mysteries and action movies (even a lot of bad ones!), so I was having a blast recognizing scenes they were ripping from other movies. And everything is played soooo dead-pan. Wonderfully dry. :) The action scenes themselves are pretty funny, just being so over the top and so out of place in this tiny English village.
Reading reviews of this movie online (before renting it), there was a lot of comparison between this movie and "Shaun of the Dead," also by the same writer-director-actor team. I've heard it's also very funny, but being a action/cop movie fan more than a zombie movie fan, I saw this one first. I do want to see Shaun of the Dead now though :) Personally, I don't feel comparisons would be really accurate, since they're spoofing such different types of movies. Like comparing Indiana Jones and Schindler's List, since they're both directed by Steven Spielberg - just such different types of movies. Anyway, one of the reviews I read (Hollywood Reporter) made the comparison as follows: "Everyone can relate to a zombie picture, but 'Hot Fuzz' is 'Point Break' meets 'The Vicar of Dibley.' It's most unlikely that outside the U.K. the twain's devotees know one another." I guess I am that niche audience, because I found it a complete hoot. Even if you don't get a lot of the UK-specific jokes (village life, etc) there are still so many movie spoof and good lines that you'll still have a good laugh.
"By the power of Greyskull!" When someone actually uses that as an exclamation, you know it's good. 'Nuff said. I think I hurt myself laughing, that one caught me so much by surprise. (If you're not from my generation of cartoon viewership, that's what He-Man's alter ego calls out to transform into He-Man - yay early 80s cartoons!)
Overall, my rating: 5 of 5. May not be everyone's sense of humor, so no guarantee on how much you'll like it, but when I have to rewind the movie several times because I've laughed through the next joke, I know it's good.
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