What Prompted You to write a Review?
I enjoyed this film very much and was disappointed that it did not do more box office in the US.
How was the Plot, Acting, Direction?
Simon Pegg played a very different character than American audiences have seen him in his more recent works. He plays a confident and very competent policeman who is not afraid to get into the middle of the action in this film. It was such a different role it took me a while to realize it was him. Pegg showed no sign of the scared, indecisive characters he more recently played. His friend in real life, Nick Frost, co-stars in this film playing a cop in a smaller town that Pegg's character is transferred to for being too efficient in London. As usual their comic chemistry makes this film even funnier than just spoofing of TV cop shows.
The writing and directing are superb. Even though I was laughing constantly and cringing when I figured out what they were spoofing, my brain did not think it was watching a run of the mill comedy. If I did not know coming in to the film that it was supposed to be a comedy, I would have thought this was just an action cop film that just happened to be funny. The writers and director did well in keeping the pace of a cop drama, even when the action moved to a quiet small town. Also, the lighting and the framing of the shots were done in the style of television cop shows.
What was best about this film was how they did the spoofing. Often times in spoofs, the sections where spoofs of certain elements of the thing they are spoofing the audience can see that is coming up before it happens. In this film the spoofed elements were smoothly blended into the regular action.
Another thing that was done extremely well were the barbs at big government organizations. The movie starts out with Pegg's character being kicked out of the London office because he's too competent. Not only is he told that by his direct superior, but then the hierarchy of the police department is then called in to tell him the same thing each time he asks why he is being transferred. When Pegg's character tries to say he is appreciated for his work and his co-workers will be upset that he's leaving, they are shown celebrating his leaving because his efficiency is making them look bad because they do not want to work. This scene in the beginning of the film is just one of many barbs at big government and the people who work for them.
Were You ENTERTAINED?
Yes, I was very much entertained! I could not stop laughing.
Did It Fulfill Expectations? Hype Level?
I had heard about this film when Simon Pegg did an interview on NPR. It sounds like it would be a typical comedy. However, it is so much more. It surpassed its hype level.
Did a Movie Trailer Establish a HYPE?
Yes, to a certain extent.
Is This Movie Mainstream Or Pretty Obscure?
It should be a mainstream movie because it spoofs the style of American television cop shows. However, it did not draw much of an audience when it was in theater in the US.
Above all, Establish Your Star Rating 1-5 Or 1-10?
Ten out of ten stars.
Define what the Star rating mean to you...
The film made me laugh and think. When the film finished, I felt satisfied.
How would you recommend the movie?
Anyone would enjoy this movie. However, people who grew up watching cop shows will enjoy this movie even more.
Be Free and Run Wild with your review!
