Brief Synopsis: Jerry Lundegaard, shyster used-car salesman, hires two thugs to kidnap his wife so he can get money from his rich, but stingy father-in-law. He tells the thugs they’ll get $80,000, but tells his father-in-law the ransom is one million. The thugs grab his wife, but get stopped by the police near Brainerd, Minnesota. They kill the cop and two witnesses, which brings local police chief Marge Gunderson onto the job. She’s seven-months pregnant and doesn’t move fast, but she’s canny and starts asking questions.

Jerry’s father-in-law messes up Jerry’s plan when he insists on taking the money to the kidnapper. He ends up getting shot, but not before shooting one of the kidnappers, Carl, in the face. Carl discovers that he’s gotten a lot more money than he thought, so he buries all of it but $80,000 in a field. The other kidnapper kills him and takes all $80,000. Marge finds him and arrests him. Jerry is caught. (His wife was killed by the other kidnapper.)

What I liked about it: I liked Marge’s character and the slow-but-steady way she moved. It was funny.

What I didn’t like about it: A lot of swearing and violence.