Hot sticks (Hot Fuzz) is a 2007 British-French action comedy film directed by Edgar Wright from a screenplay by Edgar Wright and Simon Pegg. The film was released in the United Kingdom on 16 February 2007.
After the success of "„Shaun of the Dead„", the tandem of Edgar Wright and Simon Pegg returns with an even more ambitious project - "Hot Rods". This time, the zombies are replaced by police uniforms, village secrets and explosions worthy of a Hollywood action movie. But, of course, this is a British film - so behind the crackles and furious dynamics lies a clever satire on society, bureaucracy and the human obsession with "perfect order".
„"„Hot sticks“" is the second film in the so-called "Cornet Trilogy", followed by "„The end of the world“" from 2013. In it, Wright and Pegg once again show that they can turn the most familiar genres into something original, funny, and intelligent.
Nicholas Angel (Simon Pegg) is the best police officer in London – meticulous, uncompromising, disciplined to the point of fanaticism. He is so good that he makes everyone else look bad… and because of that he is transferred to the most peaceful village in England – Sandford, where there is almost no crime.
But when a series of "incidents" begin to affect the locals, Angel senses that something is wrong in the idyllic village. With the help of his new partner, the good-natured and slightly naive Danny Batterman (Nick Frost), he begins to unravel a dark conspiracy behind Sandford's perfect facade.
The film is a mind-blowing mix of police action, black comedy, and mystery thriller that simultaneously parodies and pays homage to classics like "„Bad Boys 2“" and "„Critical point„".
If "„Shaun of the Dead“" was a request, then "„Hot sticks“" is proof: Edgar Wright is a true visual auteur. His direction is precise, almost musical – the editing, sounds and movement are choreographed in which there is no unnecessary shot.
Wright skillfully combines British dryness with Hollywood panache. The chases, shootouts and explosions are shot with respect for American action, but with a British sense of proportion and self-irony. He plays with the expectations of the viewer - first creating an impression of calm, then erupting with absurd chaos, without ever losing control of the rhythm. Every frame is polished - from the quiet streets of Sandford to the final chaos with explosions and swans.
„"„Hot sticks“" is not just a continuation of the success of "„Shaun of the Dead“" - this is a film that establishes Edgar Wright and Simon Pegg as creators of modern British cinema with a global outlook. The combination of energy, intelligence and insane fun makes it one of the best comedies of the 21st century.
With each re-watch, you discover new details – visual jokes, references, hidden lines. This is a film that loves cinema and parodies it with love, not malice.
