For all of 'Shaun's' zomb-tastic awesomeness, and for all my own love of the genre, there is a deeper love: action movies. So I was ecstatic to hear that 'Hot Fuzz' a riff on the glory days of action flick, but set in the quiet English countryside, was to be their next target. Ecstatic, but

hesitant. After all, 'Shaun' was damn near a masterpiece, and the only way to do better was to make a masterpiece.

    And god dammit, they did.

    The sensibilities, style and razor sharp, lean humor laid down in their freshmen effort has been polished to perfection in 'Hot Fuzz'. The comedy's broader, the characters deeper, the drama more earnest and the genre elements wonderfully cheeky and totally bad ass. There are parody movies like the 'Scary Movie' franchise (or even us here at Same Night), and then are honest to god parodies: satires which do not directly steal elements (though HF is guilty of one very nicely played out moment), but instead use the style of a genre to turn that genre on its head, even while lovingly embracing it.

    Sergeant Nicholas Angel (Simon Pegg) is an unemotional, relentless supercop in the London police 'service'. His arrest record is so damn good, 400% higher than any other officer, that his superiors, trying to save face because Angel is making them look bad, decide to promote him, but with one catch: he's to be promoted to Sandford, the safest village in all of England, which has not reported a murder in over 20 years. Less than enthused, Angel arrives to a quiet town with a lackluster police force, where a missing swan is considered 'Sandford's Most Wanted' and there's an odd spate of accidents occurring. Something's afoot, and Angel will find out what, if anything.

    As in 'Shaun', Pegg is teamed up with long time friend and fellow actor Nick Frost, who plays the slightly dimwitted, but loveable Danny Butterman, the son of the chief of police, played by Jim Broadbent. As with all action movies, their personalities all polar opposites: Angel can never shut off, while Danny always wants to go to the pub. Their relationship, like 'Shaun' is the main thrust of the film. Even without a large amount of action, the film would still succeed on their friendship, which evolves bit by bit, each man gradually revealing themselves to another. At times it playfully feels a lot like a funnier, taller Sam and Frodo. A conversation in the local pub (looking a lot like the Winchester) reveals the motivations and histories for doing what they do, and the two actors hit every note perfectly. Not since Laurel and Hardy have two actors meshed so seamlessly together. Most action-comedies forsake character in the name of action, or comedy, but in 'Hot Fuzz' both come as a direct result of the characters.

    Wright ensures that no actor is left behind, giving each and every person who appears on screen at least a small quip or zinger. The staff of the police headquarters is filled with characters, and though they don't have a lot to say, make their mark on the film. Of special note are the Andys, the two local detectives who are more intent on belittling Angel than doing any detecting. Their synch with one another is flawless.

    The writers plant jokes like seeds, giving you a seemingly throw-away line, only to have it come back and slug you in the face with the punch-line an hour and a half later. A conversation between Angel and the hostess of the hotel he's staying at pays off in spades during the last third. Wright and Co watched a lot of action movies to prepare for the writing of this film. They hit every note, and take particular notes from 'Point Break' (or 'The Fast and the Furious: The Beginning' for those not in the know) and possibly one of the greatest entries into the genre: 'Bad Boys II'

    This being a take on the action genre, expect some gnarly shit to go down. The last third of the film is an all out, balls to the wall gunfight that even the Michael Bays and Tony Scotts of the world could learn a thing or two about. Cliches are unloaded at about the speed of lead, as Pegg and Frost wage a two man assault on the sleepy English town, its main square and the supermarket. Sound ridiculous? You have no idea. And remember, these guys made a zombie movie, so they know a thing or two about gore: 'Hot Fuzz' definitely boasts the most horrific and cringe-inducing film this year. Keep in mind '300' opened a month ago, too!

    'Hot Fuzz' needs to be seen twice and in two separate environments: the first is at night with a packed audience, you will not have laughed harder. And the second is during a less crowded matinee, so you can pick up all the jokes you laughed over. Edgar Wright and his posse have stormed onto the film scene and are two for two, and they recognize that all the comedy, or action, in a movie won't save it unless we give a damn about the characters. 'Hot Fuzz' manages to be endearing, funny and thrilling, often all at the same time. Thus far in 2007, this is the movie you have to see. Masterpiece? I think that's underselling it a bit.

Make no mistake, 'Hot Fuzz' may be a comedy, but its heart is firmly entrenched in the action movie spectacle of our youth.

which almost felt like a satire in and of itself. Each element is twisted to a comedic effect, like Angel's obsession with his Japanese peace-lilly, to the main antagonist's diabolical scheme.