DVD Review: 'Hot Fuzz'

The "Shaun of the Dead” crew takes aim at action films with "Hot Fuzz,” a loving tribute to and parody of films such as "Lethal Weapon,” "Point Break” and "Bad Boys 2.”

Simon Pegg plays Sgt. Nicholas Angel, London's top cop whose dedication to his job is making the other officers look bad. He's transferred to sleepy Sanford, which hasn't seen a murder in years.

Angel, with new partner Danny Butterman (Nick Frost), investigates the town's many accidents. Butterman, an action-movie aficionado, is thrilled by his partner's big-city exploits and attempts to help him crack the mystery.

Timothy Dalton is delightfully over the top as grocer Simon Skinner, who may have a motive for wanting some of the victims dead.

Jim Broadbent ("Bridget Jones' Diary”) is the police chief of the small hamlet and Danny's father. He punishes Danny's errors by making him bring cake and ice cream to the station.

Director Edgar Wright, who co-wrote the film with Pegg, skewered sci-fi with the TV series "Spaced” and horror films with the "zom-rom-com” (zombie romantic comedy) "Shaun of the Dead,” both of which starred Pegg.

Those with a lot of action-film experience will enjoy "Hot Fuzz” more than neophytes. But even without specialized knowledge, "Hot Fuzz” is one of the funniest films of the year.

Extras: Four audio commentaries, video blogs, 22 deleted scenes, cast interviews, a making-of featurette and behind-the-scenes footage.

— Matthew Price