Shaun of the Dead

The great British sit-com has undergone something of a revival in recent years. Galvanised by the new wave of smart, sassy imports from the US, the Brits have girded their loins and produced a spate of quality comedies that have banished memories of the bland, identikit dross of the late eighties and early nineties.

One such series is Spaced, a wholly original and delightfully quirky comic bagatelle which has built up a small but dedicated following in the UK. Now writer/actor Simon Pegg and director Edgar Wright have teamed up once again to give us Shaun of the Dead which is, in a nutshell, a feature-length episode of Spaced (with added zombies). Happily timed to coincide with the Hollywood remake of the 1978 classic shocker Dawn of the Dead, Shaun is the perfect antidote: Irreverent, warm and very funny.

Shaun (Pegg) is your stereotypical sit-com loser: An ineffectual slob in a dead-end job, he is terminally afraid of commitment and spends all his time with his flat-mate Ed (Nick Frost, also from Spaced) who is an even bigger loser. After his girlfriend dumps him, Shaun and Ed seek solace in their local pub the Winchester - a good old-fashioned English hostelry with warm beer and pork scratchings which is infamous for its lock-ins. They stagger home in a state of advanced refreshment, unaware that the dead are now walking the earth. Indeed, it takes Shaun a little while to work it out the following morning despite interacting with a few of them (one of the recurring themes is that most of us go through the drudgery of our daily routines in a trance close to inertia).

When the penny drops, Shaun resolves to rescue his mother and his (ex) girlfriend and generally stand up for himself for the first time in his life. There is not much more of a plot than that. The film, like Spaced relies on a flawless script, observational humour and the theatre of the absurd. Pegg has perfected this in his writing but he is also a surprisingly good actor. It helps that he has surrounded himself with the pick of the British comedy fraternity who seem to have been lining up (literally in one scene) for a cameo. The stars of similarly acclaimed series' such as Black Books, The Office and Little Britain are all on show here as well as Jessica Stevenson, Pegg's Spaced co-writer, who plays a jolly-hockey-sticks human vigilante with a stiff-upper lip and can-do attitude ready to give those nasty zombie's what-for.

Veteran support comes from Penelope Wilton (a sit-com stalwart from a bygone age) as Shaun's curtain-twitching mother and Bill Nighy as her fearsome second husband who performs one of the most dignified and poignant descents into zombieness ever caught on camera.

Despite all the high praise, it must be acknowledged that Shaun of the Dead is still a spoof - a comic tool that you could argue is as low a form of wit as sarcasm. But where it scores highly is in its respect for the original material. Most spoofs (the Scary Movie franchise, for example) are vicious lampoons that unmercifully mock the films they are taking off. Shaun of the Dead gently pokes fun but doesn't lose sight of the fact that if something is worth parodying, it must have some merit. Pegg is also careful to ensure that his film can stand up on its own - there is barely a minute goes by without a very good joke and despite the light-heartedness, there are some satisfyingly scary moments and ample gore.

What is most encouraging is that us Brits have started playing to our strengths. It took a long time for comedy writers to realise that making an English version of Friends is doomed to failure (in the same way that The Office will not work with an American make-over). We should celebrate the Britishness of this film, laugh knowingly at the in gags, and be proud that it doesn't take a huge budget or movie stars to entertain people at the cinema.

8/10

I've seen a lot of Zombie movies, a subgenre that I think has been overdone but I keep going back to it to see how different can your storytelling be?

I'd always heard good things about this movie and finally got around to this 'cult classic', and I see it's got that status. This was a zombie movie like none other, you've got to watch it to find out why.

This, as the card says, is a romantic comedy with zombies. Didn't think you could introduce romance and humor in zombie movie without making it a "Scary Movie" but huh, they've done it, and have ended up making a very deep movie out of it, with all sorts of social commentary.

If, like me, you've been sleeping on this movie, don't. Watch it soon and read up on what people have to say about it to enjoy it even more.

This is the best mix of beer and blood I have ever tasted. "Shaun of the Dead" has some great comical moments and yet it has been made with lots of professionalism like this was a serious gory horror movie they were making. Because of this, through its seriousness, the movie becomes perhaps even more hilarious and really delivers. Both the fans of the (British) comedy-genre and the fans of mainly 'Zombie' movies and other gory horror-movies, will be entertained by this movie.

Visually the movie is really good looking. Its not like many other British movies and has a good looking use of cinematography and lighting. The gore, make-up and visual effects are extremely good and are even something that I haven't even seen in 'serious' Zombie/horror flicks.

You might think that this movie is just mainly a spoof of "Dawn of the Dead" (1978) but its really more than that. The movie is good and creates a good story on its own so that it becomes more than just a simple spoof. All of the characters are well written and are funny in their own way.

The acting is good for comedy standards and the actors perfectly know how to play in both hilarious/funny scene's as well as in serious/emotional one's. Plus of course it has the wonderful Bill Nighy playing a role in it. This guy really is a terrific actor that always is at his best in comical roles like he plays in this movie.

Basically this is a very good looking and professionally made movie that also is funny and hilarious at moments. I can't see how anyone could not like this movie.

8/10

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Shaun Of The Dead was an absolute comedic treasure. From the punny name itself (poking fun at Dawn of The Dead) to the beginning and then to the end, this movie was an absolute laugh and masterfully written. There's so many funny one liners throughout and an actual story line behind everything. Every time I watch this, I notice new Easter eggs of funny or witty things included. The whole movie is just the perfect blend of humor and an actual story line with drama and suspense. There's never been such a success movie before that's done what this movie has done. Absolutely recommend this movie to anyone.

Shaun of the Dead is an incredibly entertaining and cleverly crafted film that seamlessly blends horror and comedy genres. The film follows Shaun, a dead-end retail worker who finds himself battling an undead horde in the midst of a zombie apocalypse. The humor in the film is top-notch, with hilarious one-liners and perfectly timed jokes that keep the audience laughing throughout.

What makes "Shaun of the Dead" so unique is its ability to balance the humor with genuine moments of heart and emotion. The film is a perfect blend of witty banter and heartfelt character development, making the audience genuinely care about the characters and their journey.

Director Edgar Wright's sharp direction and clever editing style make for a visually stunning film that is as entertaining as it is visually impressive. The performances by Simon Pegg and Nick Frost are also worth noting, as they bring a level of chemistry and humor to the screen that is unmatched.

Overall, "Shaun of the Dead" is a must-watch film for anyone who loves horror, comedy, or just great filmmaking in general. With its perfect balance of humor and heart, it's no wonder that this film has become a cult classic and remains one of the most beloved comedies of all time. It deserves a solid 8/10 rating for its ability to make audiences laugh, care, and come back for more.