Hot Fuzz (HD DVD)

To give an entirely comprehensive review of the Hot Fuzz HD DVD is virtually impossible considering it comes equipped with four audio commentaries and a trivia track on top of everything else that is offered. However, I did my best to absorb everything it offers and since it is such a great and funny film involving several talented and funny filmmakers and actors it really helped.

I really don't think there is any comparison to a film like this. Some people might say Reno 911!, but I would almost venture to call that insulting considering American slapstick can't hold up against proper British humor. Occasionally the Brits go a bit off the deep end and I will admit I am not a huge fan of Monty Python, but anything is better than falling down gags and not to mention that British comedy seems to realize that prat falls aren't necessary for laughs, of course there are some in here, but for the most part it is well written jokes and shocking moments that earn this film a passing grade.

Written and directed by the boys behind the hit Shaun of the Dead Simon Pegg stars as top cop Nick Angel who has just been transferred to the small village of Sandford since he is making all the cops in London look bad. Once he gets settled he realizes this small quiet village has a dirty little secret and he sets out to get to the bottom of hit. The film starts off slow and forces you to be patient, but once you are along for the ride it is truly funny. On top of that they take their homages very seriously as there is everything from Bad Boys to Lethal Weapon spoofed in here and you will love looking for the clues.

Feature wise this thing is packed to the gills. As I mentioned earlier there are four audio commentaries, all of which are listed in detail to the right. The best of the bunch is also the simplest of the bunch being the one with director Edgar Wright and star Simon Pegg. The next two featuring the cast members are somewhat entertaining to bounce in and out of and the last one is sort of a last resort if you have nothing else to do.

I also mentioned the feature length trivia track that offers up tidbits as you watch. This can be turned on during any of the commentaries or just traditional playback. Along with the commentaries this also points out a couple of cool cameos. Can you find Peter Jackson and Cate Blanchett?

There is a large group of deleted scenes that really goes on way too long, a quirky little feature in which Simon and Nick try to channel Sean Connery and Michael Caine called "The Man Who Would Be Fuzz", several featurettes (some of which are already online) and a large group of storyboards drawn by Edgar's brother. There is also a cool feature called "Hot Funk" in which the filmmakers were asked to make an edited version of the movie. Realizing how funny this actually is (see Friday on USA) they added it to the HD DVD/DVD release. It is quite funny and you can actually see it on YouTube here.

Next up is a very cool batch of features showing how the special effects were done including a couple of blown up houses and of course the pummeling of a head thanks to a church spire. There are trailers and some outtakes and finally an edited version of Edgar Wright's Dead Right a film he made when he was 18. The film is absolutely terrible but it does come with two commentary tracks. The first track is with Edgar and the second is with Simon and Nick, and it is good. At one point Nick Frost asks, "How long have we got left?" and Simon says, "This demonstrates a level of self indulgence hitherto only seen on fucking M. Night Shyamalan DVDs. There should be a prize for anyone that sits through this." It helps the time pass if you are going to try and watch it.

Hot Fuzz is certainly worth owning and I think you could get by with buying just the DVD version, but the HD DVD does have some extras that hardcore fans of this genre, and especially fans of Wright and Pegg, will enjoy.