VERY subtle! It builds and builds. Gets weirder and funnier--an exquisite crescendo of thrilling humour!

Rating: 10/10 (16 February 2007)

'Hot Fuzz' was not at all what I expected from the trailers--- but I LOVED this movie! It is quintessentially British, goofy and charming, with enough dead-pan 'serious' bits to set yo up for the absurd and hilarious comedy.
The plot is simple. A hot-dog London Met super-cop gets on everyone's nerves in his London cop precinct. They transfer him out because he 'makes us all look bad'. He gets sent, with a promotion to Sargent, to a peaceful village called Sandford. As it happens, my house-mates are all coppers (really). They tell me that Sandford is used in UK police training, and amongst British coppers, as a clichÃ© for the stereotype peaceful English village. Similar, in American jargon, to 'Anytown, USA', or perhaps 'Mayberry', fictional home of TV's Sheriff Andy Taylor and goofy over-eager nerd Deputy Barny Fife.
Anyway--- the situations are never presented as slap-stick, which surprised me. They are KIND OF played 'straight'--- except they develop, scene by scene, into situations so surreal and so silly and funny and thrilling--- I can't say more without giving away the plot. But I can say that in an odd way, this movie is more realistic in its depiction of English country life than many so-called 'straight' dramas.
The whole thing is a masterful build up--- a crescendo that builds and builds for the entire two hours, culminating in some of the charmingest and funniest and excitingest scenes in any comedy I have ever seen.
This is a great good time. I saw it in a packed theatre tonight--- and while there weren't the kind of huge belly-laughs and raucous laughter one enjoys in some types of wacky comedy, the audience did laugh a LOT, did not squirm--- no one slipped out to loo during the entire time, and during the credits the bulk of the audience stayed in their seats for quite a while. I, and I think they, seemed to enjoy simply basking in the glow of this wonderful and lovingly made, silly, goofy, wild, and oddly touching British comedy. Thank you, American studio Universal, for producing it, and evidently paying for it. I LOVED this movie!!! I gave it a 10 out of 10.