mr_marchington

Those who liked Shaun of the Dead and Spaced (if you go back that far) will definitely enjoy Hot Fuzz! The movie starts off funny and just gets better, but interspersed around every corner is some brilliant action and it is fair to say that the trailer gives very little away re the plot! Also, in the usual style of this type of film the trailer contained a lot of funny moments from the film, but i am pleased to report that these were not the only comedy highlights and there are plenty of laughs in there that will catch you just like comedy should - by surprise! There are plenty of strong performances in this movie from Pegg and Frost down to British comedy greats like Coogan, Eldon, Bill Bailey and Martin Freeman! Also we see a welcome return to the screen by Timothy Dalton who pulls his role off to a tee! This movie will suit any fans of the comedy genre and also satisfies any action-film cravings that you might have!! Whether you are a fan of Pegg and Frost's previous work or not, Hot Fuzz is a must-see Brit-flick! 9/10

This film is not as bad as everyone seems to make out! Granted, you do have to look past certain elements, i.e. Rosie O'Donnell (the movie-killer) and the lack of a hugely complex story-line. But after watching the first film you should know that that is not exactly what you're going to get.

What you do know you're going to get however is a performance by one of the most under-rated double-acts in cinema history. Dreyfuss & Estevez deliver solid gold comedy throughout with impeccable timing, (it really is faultless!). There are so many one-liners and brilliant comedy scenes in this film not only provided by the dynamic duo, but casting Dennis Farina was also a master-stroke.

I love the way that Badham in both films, manages to inter-weave the comedy with what looks from the outset to be a serious action drama.

As comedy-lovers we have to look past the weaker parts of the film and concentrate on the fact that the comedy aspect of this film is brilliant if not slightly under-used!

This is in my opinion the best original TV drama that ITV has had to offer in a very long time.

The choice of some new (to ITV) faces was also a good choice. Richard Coyle, best know as Jeff in Coupling, played a very convincing Mike, a man haunted by his past and part of a complicated friendship with Pete, played by Toby Stephens, who plays an incredibly good, dominant, calculating and seemingly evil side of the pair. Add Keeley Hawes as the love interest and you have a very competent cast.

The story is very involved and has you guessing and second-guessing the whole way through. The clever use of flash-backs to slowly reveal the past between Pete & Mike paints the picture in your head but does not prepare you for any twists and turns in the plot and pleasingly the ending is not totally predictable. There are parallels in the story and bits that remind you of other things you have seen, but on the whole it is original.

I was drawn to watch The Best Man because of who i starred and it was very interesting to see Coyle and Stephens in more realistic roles than they would usually play. But I have to commend ITV and the production on this occasion for making a TV drama which didn't star Robson Greene or Julie Walters!! (No offence to them - there just seems to be an oligopoly of Brit actors who hold ITV TV dramas to ransom and i am glad that ITV have fought them!