She Likes to Watch

It’s true that when you have a child, you don’t get out as much. And that’s OK — though it means I see far fewer movies than I once did and wind up learning a lot more about “Blue’s Clues” and “Dora the Explorer” than I ever expected. (Kids, sing along: “I’m the map, I’m the map, I’M THE MAP!”)

Still, my wife and I had to make time to see Hot Fuzz this past weekend.

We loved stars Simon Pegg and Nick Frost in the outrageous zombie comedy “Shaun of the Dead.” (Our favorite scene: Battling the walking dead while Queen’s show-choiry “Don’t Stop Me Now” blares from a juke box.) So we had high hopes for “Fuzz,” which features the two Brits as police officers in a sleepy English village.

I hope these guys continue to pair up because they have the potential to become the next great comedic duo — a modern-day Abbott and Costello. A Martin and Lewis. A Nolte and Murphy.

Okay, I’ll stop at Martin and Lewis. My point is: They’re good.

I’m not one of those people who’s ga-ga over British movies, either. I mean, yeah, “Monty Python & The Holy Grail” was pretty funny. But you won’t hear me going around spouting lines from the movie with a bad British accent like some dorks I’ve seen. (Though my wife and I are in disagreement about the quality of my British accent. I say it’s spot-on; she says it’s like a bad pidgin language that combines English, Irish and Australian dialects.)

Anyway, “Hot Fuzz” didn’t disappoint. It’s filled with lots of smart comedy, quick “Airplane”-like jokes and a humdinger of an ending. And if you see it, keep an eye out for well-disguised cameos by Cate Blanchett and Peter Jackson.

After seeing “Hot Fuzz,” I have hope for the summer movie season. Speaking of which … in next week’s Ticket, the features staff will write about upcoming movies we’re excited about — and ones that make us roll our eyes and talk about the further demise of Hollywood. Check it out Thursday, May 10.
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Leigh Rubin update: Rubin, the creator of the syndicated “Rubes” comic panel, will offer a 1-day class through Cal Poly on June 1. Those who attend, at the Oceano Community Center, are invited to bring drawing materials for a little cartooning instruction.

Last week, I blogged about Rubin’s animation in the movie “Moola,” directed by Don Most, which screened at the Newport Beach Film Festival. Rubin has learned that Most (aka Ralph Malph from “Happy Days”) won best director at the festival, which could help distribution for the film.
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Finally, it was great to see drummer Kenny Aronoff perform at the Graduate over the weekend. Though it was a shortened clinic — It was wedged in the middle of the Drum Circuit’s annual drum contest — it was still a thrill to see him play live. Kudos to the Drum Circuit for hosting great drummers like Aronoff and Steve Gadd.