The Nazis set up a secret base on the moon in 1945 where they hide out and prepare to return to take over the earth with peace. imdb (and me)

No, really?

Yes. Really. If you don’t believe me – check Wikipedia: Iron Sky is a Finnish-German-Australian science-fiction comedy film directed by Timo Vuorensola and written by Johanna Sinisalo and Michael Kalesniko. It tells the story of Nazi Germans who, after being defeated in 1945, fled to the Moon where they built a space fleet …

Yes, you did read ‘Australian’. Screen Queensland actually. I’m from Queensland and I wasn’t really aware this even existed. I had sort of heard of it but – it’s a bit of a leap from filming on Fraser Island to CGI-ing Nazis in space. All American roles are also played by Australians and Australian residents.

It makes for a long credit sequence at the end: three sets of credits for the three parts of the production. There is also a personal screen credit for every fan who donated money to the production. Wow. It used to be said that a film that was a child of many fathers was a sure disaster. Not this one.

It is a joy to watch. I never thought I’d say that ‘Nazi’ in the same sentence but it is. The production values are excellent. The moonbase looks like Leni Reifenstahl’s steampunk dream come true – darkly filled with cogs and everything gunmetal grey. The CGI plays with vast differences in scale in the same way that Sucker Punch did, but much more effectively.

The roles are all play broadly and for laughs but with a sincerity that gives them kick. Every time I decided I was watching a pure spoof the action ramped up a notch or the camera pulled back for a long shot with every tiny detail in place and I was blown away.

After I got over the ‘fled to the moon where they built a space fleet’ factor – and the way the whole film completely ignores the difference between moon and earth gravity – I sat back and had a great time, letting the story take me where it wanted and really enjoying the ride.

Still having difficulty with the concept of Nazis on the moon? How about Sarah Palin running for re-election as president, or a spaceship called the USS George Bush Jr? I don’t think I’m helping, am I?

Think of it as Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow – but with Nazis … or Star Wars meets Raiders of the Lost Ark – but with Nazis no, wait, that one had Nazis. How about Star Trek meets Captain America meets The Great Escape, if they were all Nazis? And wait for the bottle marked ‘Albiniser’.

There are just not enough movies out there with the fine sense of the ridiculous that this film does – or if there are they seem obsessed with boys’ rude bits or vomit. This is so much better. Don’t be put off by the subtitles either as much of the dialogue is in English.

English, German or Finnish – it would be funny in any language, not bad for the least hilarious group of people in history.