Hot Fuzz is a brilliant film. Yeah, yeah, I sound like a fangirl, who cares. Aside from the fact that I'll watch anything that trio (I'm including Edgar Wright, the director) puts together, the movie itself is very tightly constructed, has some seriously impeccable comic timing, and has characters that, while funny, are endearingly real. The script is very strong, too. And I should know, I got myself an advanced degree in that thespian authoring thing. (Hence why I sympathize with your academic travails.)

Also: Yay Spaced!

(And--if you find that you enjoyed Hot Fuzz, try Shaun of the Dead. I Two-Minutes-Hate zombie movies, but SotD is brilliant in the same ways Hot Fuzz is. Very much worth it.)