The Filth, The Freaks, and the Fools...

Hot Fuzz (B) - The 'Spaced' and "Shawn of the Dead" crew are back, and this time they're taking on the "Action Movie" genre. The key to parodying this genre is to have a fundamental love for it, which is why all the John Woo/John McTiernagan/Michael Bay tropes in the movie work so well. Being English, it's primary inspiration in terms of the story is from "Straw Dogs" (one of the villagers was an extra) and "The Wicker Man". The super cop protagonist so outshines his fellow officers in London that he's transferred to a small village where bodies start turning up. Turns out it's the work of a local cabal of village leaders who want to keep their place free from "Gypsies, Hippies, and Ravers". It's like neighbourhood leader types on this side of the Atlantic who reprimand their neighbours for putting basketball hoops over their garage and such...taken to an extreme level. Anyway, this all leads to a classic two gun standoff in the final act with hilarious results.

The movie works, unlike say, "Date Movie" or "Scary Movie" because while it acknowledges the genre, it doesn't condescend to it. Edgar Wright's made a solid enough film on its own that eats its cake and has it too. (Remember the opening scene in the village police station? Get it? Get it? Eh?) Favorite bits: "By the power of Greyskull!" and Timothy Dalton falling on a spike, head-villain style; "Thisth really fucking hurths!" Only complaint: Wright's repetitive quick cuts (Darren Aronofsky-lite) get, well, repetitive...

Spiderman 3 (C) - Film making by committee, and it shows. The webslinger faces not one but three antagonists in this installment, on top of the subplots straight of of "The O.C." Will Peter and M.J. stay together? Will Peter and Harry Osborn reconcile their friendship? What's the deal with Gwen Stacey? What's that upstart Edward Brock's game, anyways? Oh, and turns out it was escaped con Flint Marko who killed Uncle Ben all along...

Perversely, I found myself tuning out during the big fight scenes- CGI characters have no real weight to them, so when our heroes hit their heads or get thrown through wall, you don't feel any tension. Sam Raimi has enough skill as a director so the 'soap opera' moments held my interest more.

It seems Superhero movies are a law of diminishing returns unto themselves. On one hand, you have to please the long-term comic fans so favorites like the symbiont costume 'Venom' has to make an appearance. On the other hand, you've still got to shoehorn a semblance of story into the film. When 'Spiderman 4' shows up, you know- you KNOW Flash Thompson and 'The Lizard' will make an appearance. And the Lizard'll kidnap Mary Jane. And Peter'll show up to rescue her. And the subplot with Gwen will resolve itself when the Lizard (or was it the Hunter?) kills her off. And M.J. says, "Go get 'em, Tiger!" and...and...

Ehh...

Blades Of Glory (C) - The only people who give a shit about competitive figure skating are, well, competitive figure skaters. And their parents. And sexless nerds. So the only reason to see this film is if you're a Will Farrel (and Will Arnett) fan. I'll level with you; Farrel's brand of 'improv' comedy is hit or miss with me. Mostly 'hit', though it's the type of comedy which can get real self-indulgent and lazy real quickly. Could it be that Farrel appreciates the high level of skill and improvisation that real figure skaters need to master their craft? Nah, he came on board after Ben Stiller passed on his role. Worth a few chuckles, at least. (I liked the video of coach Craig T. Nelson's first attempt to create the "Iron Lotus" stunt, with predictably lethal results.)

As for Jon Heder, well... I hated 'Napoleon Dynamite' so much that he's kinda ruined for me as a comic actor, or really, as an actor. He's too wispy to play straight man, like he does here. This is really mean of me, but in less than a year, he'll be competing with actors like Andy Samburg (who I thought for a minute was Heder in that upcoming 'Hot Rod') for Jon Heder-like roles. I laughed when his character was disowned by his step-father for getting booted out of the figure skating circuit, but in retrospect, I'm not sure I was enjoying his character's pain, or Heder's.