(2007) An R-rated comedy for violence and language from a script by British director Edgar Wright and actor Simon Pegg. London Metropolitan's finest police officer, Nicholas Angel (Simon Pegg), with an arrest record 400% higher than anyone else, is to be promoted to sergeant and transferred against his wishes to Sandford, Gloucester, a quiet village with a reputation for being the safest locality in the country. Can't have him being exceptional in London, the thinking goes, making everyone else look poorly in comparison.

On his first day before he's even officially on the police force (sorry, "service"), he brings in several underaged drinkers ("When's your birthday?" "Every year") from the pub and an inebriate trying to drive. "Already arrested the whole village," says the policeman (sorry, "officer") on night duty. The drunk driver turns out to be Constable Danny Butterman (Nick Frost), son of the chief of police.

Nicholas and Danny become partners looking for a missing swan, chasing after a shoplifter, stopping a speeding car carrying Solicitor Martin Blower, a local actor, and Eve Draper, his leading lady, on their way to perform in Romeo and Juliet. The next day Romeo and Juliet are dead, decapitated in automobile accident. Not only does Sgt Angel insist on saying "collision" ("accident" implied no one's to blame), he suspects murder (no skid marks).

Noticing that his partner never "switches off" (only his Peace Lily gets occasional off-duty attention), Danny tries interesting Nicholas in cop videos (e.g. Point Break and Bad Boys II) and having a few pints. They become bosom buddies (sorry, "fast friends").

A series of "accidents" follows: George Merchant get incinerated when his mansion explodes; Tim Messenger, local newspaper editor, gets splattered when a piece of church architecture crushes his skull; famed horticulturist Leslie Tiller gets stabbed with a pair of shears by a hooded villain all in black right before Sgt Angel's eyes. However, no one in the police service or in the community is willing to believe Sgt Angel's theory of serial murders. Accidents happen every day, they all say.

"What makes you think it was murder?" "I was there," says Sgt Angel. There's not been a recorded murder in Sandford in 20 years, and the judging for Best Village Award is about to take place. Sgt Angel confronts his prime suspect, Simon Skinner, owner of the local grocery, with his entirely plausible explanation of how and why the murders took place. "Very entertaining," applauds Mr Skinner, except for the lack of any concrete evidence.

A prolonged cinematic 1812 Overture grand finale is filled with a catalogue of clichés from every violent genre of guns blazing, blood splashing, glass shattering, ketchup splishing, shopping carts as a battering ram smashing, and Bolognese everywhere before a sea mine explodes, bringing the station house down. Yet with all the firepower capable of mayhem and massacre, including a gruesome impaling, none of the characters (other than those previously murdered) die.

Click here for links to places to buy or rent this movie in video and/or DVD format, or to buy the soundtrack, posters, books, even used videos, games, electronics and lots of other stuff. I suggest you shop at least two of these places before buying anything. Prices seem to vary continuously. For more information on this film, click on this link to The Internet Movie Database. Type in the name of the movie in the search box and press enter. You will be able to find background information on the film, the actors, and links to much more information.

Copyright © 2007 Patrick Ivers. All rights reserved.
Reproduced with the permission of the copyright holder.

Patrick Ivers can be reached via e-mail at .