Pulp Fiction (1994)

Genre: Crime, Action, Drama, Thriller

Director: Quentin Tarantino

Writer: Quentin Tarantino, Roger Avary

Staring: Bruce Willis, John Travolta, Samuel L. Jackson, Uma Thurman

Rating:★★★★★ 

Pulp Fiction is one of my favourite films and Quentin Tarantino's creation is undoubtedly one of the best films to be made to this day. Staring the likes of John Travolta, Uma Thurman, Samuel L. Jackson and Bruce Willis performance wise Pulp Fiction is outstanding but for film lovers who look at a film cinematically Pulp Fiction is a masterpiece. The film is like a puzzle as it approaches with four plots that all interlink and combine together for an astonishing ending. It will leave you to watch it again and again, it provides an amazing storyline and action keeping you entertained.

The story starts with two small-time thugs Pumpkin and Honey Bunny (Tim Roth, Amanda Plummer) at a diner they decide the best thing to do is to rob it. The story then switches to two mobsters Jules and Vincent (Samuel L. Jackson, John Travolta) who are on a job to pick up a suitcase for big time mob kingpin Marcellus Wallace. While Marsellus is out of town he asks Vincent to take his wife Mia out for a few days, whilst he's out of town he is fixing a match with the Boxer Butch Coolidge (Bruce Willis), but the deal goes wrong. Although all these events are spontaneous and unrelated they all link and twist in together comprising a series of bizarre, action packed un-called for incidents. 

I will not spoil this film, I will not tell you how the characters make the mistakes and I will not tell you what those mistakes are. Pulp Fiction provides amazing action and on top of that a constant suspense filled tense atmosphere as all characters are fleeing from Marsellus Wallace (Ving Rhames). The thing that is most amazing about Pulp Fiction is how it's almost three different films in one, but due to the brilliance of Quentin Tarantino and his writing team they combine to make one film that fits perfectly like a puzzle, playing on the domino effect. When first watching this film I was amazed how it all unravelled and came together and ever since I've found myself watching it again and again, its not only me who thought the same as cinematically it was voted the Oscar for best screenplay and original script and clocked up a further 59 wins and 46 nominations, so no wonder its featured as one of the all time greats. Pulp fiction is a definite must watch film, a classic that will be remember prestigiously in the film industry.

Hot Fuzz (2007)

          

Genre: Action Comedy

Director: Egdar Wright

Writers. Simon Pegg, Egdar Wright

Staring: Simon Pegg, Nick Frost

Rating: ★★★½

 

 After huge success with 2004 “zom-com” Shaun Of The Dead, comedy duo Nick Frost and Simon Pegg pair up again to create Hot Fuzz. Simon Pegg also pairing to co-write with Egdar Wright  once again, Hot Fuzz is another hugely hilarious brilliant film, with constant entertainment. It makes many references to their previous film, with Nick Frost still addicted to cornetos. It makes further references to other famous films also providing many laughs with their “Brit wit” sense of humour.

Simon Pegg plays London cop Nicholas Angel, but he isn’t any ordinary officer, he lives for his job and his job is his life. Sick and tired of his constant arrests and being too good for his job, fellow colleagues such as (Bill Baily) and his sergeant (Martin Freeman) transfers him to a small English village town of Sanford. With no choice in the matter he travels to the supposedly quiet little town of Sanford however it isn’t as quiet as suspected as a series of unordinary  ”accidents” occur. Officer Angel is paired with local moron and lazeabout PC Danny Butterman who just happens to be the inspectors son (Jim Broadbent) Danny’s usual day consists of buying cornetos and then the pub however this is all about to change now he has Nicholas Angel as his partner. 

 

The comedy duo Nick Frost and Simon Pegg have huge success again keeping you constantly laughing with gags and goose changing. The film itself leaves the duo to provide laughter with the storyline providing the action. However Hot Fuzz isn’t just a normal action film with explosions and guns it takes a twist involving the elderly and reversing stereotypes. Although tense it made me laugh as well as being glued to the screen. It surprised me with how they presented deaths, although set in a small village it wasn’t pitchforks and shotguns but gruesome deaths that also play homage to other well-known films. The film fuels on the duo of Nicholas Angel and Danny Butterman investigating the link to all these “accidents”. Once realising the truth, that I will not reveal they are then spilt between two decisions and have to work out what’s for the greater good. 

The acting in Hot Fuzz for me is outstanding, Nick Frost and Simon Pegg are brilliant once again. Simon Pegg and Egdar Wright deserve a lot of credit for their storyline, it’s unique, funny and action packed. The laughs in this film are great and big, and so is the action. The supporting cast is also great alongside the cameos of well-known actors including Steve Merchant, Steve Coogab and Bill Nighly previously used in Shaun Of The Dead. Hot Fuzz certainly ticks a lot of the right boxes, if you loved Shaun Of The Dead you will love this as it lives up to its standard. One that will make you laugh and another must watch.

Wanderlust (2012)

Genre: Comedy, Romance

Director: David Wain 

Writers: David Wain, Ken Marino 

Staring: Paul Rudd, Jennifer Aniston 

Rating: ★★½

This is a film that does everything right but doesn't get the result it deserves, there's many funny moments but it isn't the funniest of films. It lacks diversity in the sense it will drag the same gag and joke the whole way through the film gradually boring you but making you chuckle unknowingly. It's a surprise too with two popular funny leads of Jennifer Aniston and Paul Rudd who have previously worked together on the set of friends, however they were let down by some sloppy and lazy writing by David Wain and Ken Marino. 

The storyline of Wanderlust isn't at all bad but promising with more than enough potential to make a great comedy. Couple George and Linda Gergenblatt (Paul Rudd, Jennifer Aniston) find themselves drowning in financial troubles, abandoning ship they decide to leave their loft in Manhattan. At first their plan is to stay at George's brothers house however after constant teasing and bullying they decide to spend a few weeks in a local hippy commute. Living the life drugged up, free and naked and oh no doors in the toilet, what could possibly be the matter. 

The free will life style poses a threat to the couple, especially George who feels at risk with the "practising of free love" rule. There were many opportunities for gags in this film but Wanderlust seem to just present modern hippies and expect it to be funny despite no one finding didgeridoo's and trippy tea served by naked men that funny. George finally snaps at the end and can't take the lifestyle producing the witty, sarcastic mocking humour you would of expected, especially after previous films such as Anchorman (2004). The supporting cast  or "hippies" despite good and nice provide little to none humour whatsoever, that's actually surprising with the likes of Malin Akerman and Joe Lo Trugilo featuring. 

Paul deserves credit in this film, you can obviously tell he had a hard time with the script but despite this he made laughs and most of them. Everything in Wanderlust from the writing, soundtrack, characters where below average with the exception of Paul Rudd. Some people will find this film hugely hilarious, but for me it didn't make me laugh as much as I would of liked. It might be down to personal taste and its a hit or miss film however I want rush to watch this film again and it'll probably be a miss rather than a hit. 

Anchorman (2004)

Genre: Comedy

Director: Adam McKay 

Writers: Will Ferrell, Adam McKay 

Staring: Will Ferrell, Steve Carell, Paul Rudd, Christina Applegate 

Rating: ★★★★

Anchorman is possibly the godfather of the current "teenage" generation, sad but true. It's hugely hilarious with an amazing well known cast also featuring many cameo performances from comedy stars I will not mention. Set in a news station it stereotypes and mocks what happens on the news, from those cheesy smile credits to the friendly chats after the sign off. It takes an opportunity to show the viewers what they might not see on the news, behind the cameras, but of course this is a comedy and you can't believe everything you see on TV. 

The story focuses on San Diego's popular news Anchor Ron Burgundy (Will Ferrell), 

He's a master of the jazz flute, winner of 5 Emmy's and has a woman as a co anchor, wait did someone say Women! Trouble arises as manager Ed Harken (Fred Willard) decides he wants some diversity and hires Veronica Corningstone (Christina Applegate), who aspires to be a network anchor. Scared cause "their menstruation attracts bears" the act of sabotage begins from the San Diego news men but the woman fight back. 

The male news team consist of very well known comedy actors, Steve Carell plays  Brick Tamland, the weather man with a grenade in his pocket. There's also Brian Fantana and Champ Kind (Paul Rudd, David Koechner) and the four together occasionally go suit shopping and sing afternoon delight. It would be boring eventually and unfair to get all the laughs in this film from mocking the stupidity of the news team. So Anchorman focuses on Ron Burgundy and Veronica. They get close and into a relationship, taking trips to pleasure town but when work gets in the way they turn bitter and their actions have costly consequences and Ron loses his job, will Ron and Veronica get back together and things go back to usual? Stay tuned San Diego. 

The laughs in this film are big and there are plenty off them. Some films go too far and try too hard for laughs being somewhat stupid and silly, however despite Anchorman doing this, they do it well and you can't stop yourself from laughing. As mentioned before there are a number of cameo performances from other well known comedy actors, they all meet in a Network standoff free-for all and well things escalate quickly. I love this film like I love lamp and scotch, you'll find yourself laughing and eventually quoting it every time you put it on and I personally think its the best comedy in the last decade for sure. If you haven't already seen Anchorman you're missing out, it's definitely a must watch comedy. 

Shaun Of The Dead (2004)

Genre: Comedy, Horror

Director: Edgar Wright

Writers: Simon Pegg, Edgar Wright

Staring: Simon Pegg, Nick Frost, Kate Ashfield

Rating: ★★★½

Shaun Of The Dead is a British comedy about two best friends encountering a zombie invasion in London. Where most zombie films focus on the undead, this film takes a different approach and is more like a sitcom focusing on ordinary life problems but with flesh eating zombies getting in the way. Best-buds, housemates, drinking partners and lazy morons Shaun and Ed (Simon Pegg, Nick Frost) aim to fight away the shuffling zombies roaming London rescue loved ones and go to the local pub, The Winchester for a nice pint.

The film opens with a list of mocking ironic hints at a zombie invasion, almost teasing you. While the real world has its problems so does the world of Shaun, spending all his time in the local pub with Ed and working in a poxy small retail store his girlfriend Liz (Kate Ashfield) leaves him. However Shaun will fight for her and try and get her back but first a trip to The Winchester with Ed and a few beers. Waking up after choking on his own dribble Shaun and Ed realise that Zombies are walking the streets of London. Ignoring advice and love for classic records they fight back in hope of saving Shaun's mum Barbara (Penelope Wilton) and getting back Liz. 

In true comedy style they bash and bump their way through the undead with a cricket bat and shovel all fuelled from a can of coke and a Corneto. Shaun of The Dead plays to the humorous British stereotypes with the characters of Shaun's mum Barbara and her husband Phil (Bill Nigly). In the face of death and hell the two stand firm in true British style by running bite wounds under a cold tap, putting on the kettle and making sandwiches. The play on the stereotypes brings laughs so credit to writers Edgar and Simon. 

Shaun of The Dead is a very different take on the somewhat exhausted genre of zombie films. It creates many laughs and that's down to the comedy duo Simon Pegg and Nick Frost who act very well as clueless morons. All in all this film gives you exactly what you expected, lots of laughs and comical idiotic ways of killing zombies. The best "zom-com" out there and possibly the only one with a soundtrack that includes Queen, a must watch film so don't miss out.