Rogue Pictures and Working Title Productions present an R rated 121 minute film directed by Edgar Wright and starring Simon Pegg (Sergeant Nicholas Angel), Martin Freeman (Met Sergeant), Bill Nighy (Metropolitan Chief Inspector Kenneth), Robert Popper ("Not" Janine), Joe Cornish (Bob), Chris Waitt (Dave), Eric Mason (Bernard Cooper), Billie Whitelaw (Joyce Cooper), Nick Frost (PC Danny Butterman), Peter Wight (Roy Porter), Julia Deakin (Mary Porter), Bill Bailey (Sergeant Turner), Paul Freeman (Rev. Philip Shooter), Trevor Nichols (Greg Prosser), Elizabeth Elvin (Sheree Prosser), Stuart Wilson (Dr. Robin Hatcher), Lorraine Hilton (Amanda Paver), Timothy Dalton (Simon Skinner), Jim Broadbent (Inspector Frank Butterman), Paddy Considine (DS Andy Wainwright), Rafe Spall (DC Andy Cartwright), Kevin Eldon (Sergeant Tony Fisher), Karl Johnson (PC Bob Walker), Olivia Colman (PC Doris Thatcher), Edward Woodward (Tom Weaver), Graham Low (The Living Statue), Adam Buxton (Tim Messenger), Tim Barlow (Mr. Treacher), Ben McKay (Peter Cocker), David Threlfall (Martin Blower), Lucy Punch (Eve Draper), with special appearances by Cate Blanchett (Jeanine), Steve Coogan (Metropolitan Police Inspector), Peter Jackson (Santa) and Elvis (The Swan).
As you can see by the cast there were quite a number of actors in this film and that's not by no means mentioning them all. The main character of course was Sergeant Nicholas Angel who is cast from his London police office due to jealous associates to go and work in the countryside, Sanford, the community that cares. When he arrives in Sanford he immediately tries to whip this small town into shape arresting everyone from underage drinkers, children peeing in public to a town drunk that tries to drive and almost runs him over. Actually this drunken driver leads to the eventual introduction of Nicholas's police partner, Danny, who happens to be the Inspectors son. These two crime fighters take on the jobs of the towns role models but tend to resemble the likes of "Laurel and Hardy", "Abbott and Costello" and even "Crocket and Tubby". I mean Tubbs, remember "Miami Vice"?
These two officers work side by side with a watchful eye over Sanford, a close nit group of somewhat strange but endearing people that live in a quaint community in the running for the best village award. Things are not always what they appear to be even in a small village where everyone knows your name especially when suspicious accidents and events start to happen to the locals. The film references several other films like "Point Break" and "Bad Boys II" and does better than spoofs on several scenes from these films but tends to resemble others like "James Bond" and "Scream". Sergeant Angel starts to question whether the accidents in this town are just that or could they possibly be done by a murderer in the town. Fingers start to get pointed at all the towns people especially Simon Skinner as possible suspects leading Nicholas and Danny down an unwelcoming path by many so near and dear.
Although the film starts out a bit slow yet containing some great lines it flows quite well keeping the audience intrigued by this crime fighting, action, drama slash comedy. Well directed, written and acted the story line plays out brilliantly utilizing all the characters like that of the board game "clue". A fitting score with magnificent camera angles and cinematography help to keep this light film in the beginning move into a dark "Dirty Harry" type climax sure to keep your eyes glued to every bloody scene. I'm not just using British slang here! The mysteries of the cloak and dagger killer or killers, the beauty of the majestic white horse, the old hag with the oozy or the crime fighting swan all lead up to an explosive ending surrounding the NWA. If you're wondering what or who is the NWA, than go check out this ingenious film. If you liked "Shaun of the dead" you'll even like this one more. Yarp you surely will! But beware of the F bomb because once Danny discovers his true identity and that of his destiny he also learns a new vocabulary.
Reporting for Talkin' Pets, I'm Jon Patch.