½
2004
Rated: R for violence, gore, horrific images, and sexual content.
Genre: Comedy Horror Suspense Romance
Directed By: Edgar Wright
Running Time: 1:39
Review by: Neal Bailey
Review Date: 3/07/05
DVD Features:
Featurette - 1. Special Effects Comparison
2. Edgar And Simon's Pitch To The Studio
3. Simon Pegg's Video Diary
Extended Scenes
Outtakes
Casting Tapes
Text/Photo Galleries:
Photo Gallery
Theatrical Poster Designs
Ad Campaign
If you like this, try: Army of Darkness, Evil Dead, Creepshow, The People Under the Stairs

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SHAUN OF THE DEAD

 

This is a very quirky movie that sticks in your head with memorable moments. It’s an obvious vehicle for the comedy of Simon Pegg, who before this I was unfamiliar with, but it’s well done. It’s very British and quit calm comedy, which is not my usual style. I prefer British comedy in the extreme, like Monty Python. But I have my admiration for the style in this movie, which is situation based without the slapstick.
There are priceless scenes and moments that are worth good laughs in this film, which is great, because in most comedy, there aren’t any. But there aren’t enough to make it great. Still, when we see the dart impaled in Shaun’s head, when we cut to the ending (which I won’t spoil) there are some great laughs, and we all have a roommate in our past that this movie evokes.

It’s not the revolution that everyone made it out to be, but it is a fine film, enjoyable. I don’t know that I’ll miss not seeing it again, but it wasn’t horrible, either. I expected more, and was a little disappointed.

There are a lot of clichés, there is too much thought put into the story, and there is a general feeling of apathy at being chased by zombies that makes the story strained when they actually start getting scared. It’s like, one minute it’s “Feh, screw it. They’re zombies. Let’s kick their butt.” And then it’s a scene of drama and horror where Shaun’s mom dies and the zombies are a real and credible threat. The shift takes you out of the narrative, and I know, it’s comedy, but it’s there nonetheless.

There’s also the fact that no one would want to be with Shaun’s girl, she’s such a tart, so it’s hard to sympathize.

Filmmakers need to get that we don’t want a storyline in a comedy or a horror or an action film unless it’s REALLY good. We want laughs. We wants scares. We want explosions. Simple.

This movie is half plot, half comedy, and it should be 75/25 in favor of yuks.

A decent time. Much better viewed with friends. If you view it alone, you’ll be disappointed, but when there are people laughing with you, this is a better experience.

 

 

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