Let me tell you a story about a boy named Horror. Horror had a little sister named Comedy with whom he fathered a child named Shaun Lemarka. He later became better known as the horror-comedy hybrid movie Shaun of the Dead.
This movie is a British movie, so there are two things you need to expect going into it. Nobody is really that hot and everybody has an effeminate voice. But it all works together as not just a comedy but a romantic comedy with zombies.
What exactly is a romantic comedy with zombies placed in a English setting? What kind of director would be so daring to ever try to film such an unholy creation? Did anyone see “Dead Alive?” No? Ah, that’s a shame because it’s also a romantic comedy with zombies directed by Peter Jackson. “Dead Alive” is the film that gave Jackson the guts to birth “Shaun of the Dead.”
The film’s Web site clearly states that the movie is “A romantic comedy. With zombies.” The story is basic in its premise.
Shaun (Simon Pegg) is a 32-year-old store clerk who is going nowhere in life, and he’s going there with Ed (Nick Frost), his college roommate and an all-around fat slob.
Liz (Kate Ashfield) is Shaun’s girlfriend, or at least she is until she dumps him for being such a loser. So Shaun sets out to prove to her that he’s changing into a better man so he can win her back. Oh, one last thing: THE DEAD HAVE RISEN AND ARE EATING THE LIVING!
As far as zombies go, these are from the old school. If one bites you, you’ll slowly turn into a zombie.
What makes “Shaun of the Dead” refreshing for the zombie genre is that it shows the protagonists not so stricken with fear, but treating a zombie invasion the way we’d treat a hurricane or an earthquake.
Shaun and company just want to find a place to stay while everything blows over. While they understand the dangers of zombies, they also understand zombie weaknesses so they don’t over dramatize one or two zombies being in the area. Keeping down the melodrama actually makes the scenes where there is more emotional impact. Their fears are relatable, and when they’re sad your heart breaks just a little. This is one of the few films that actually deals effectively with the “You used to be my friend, but now you’re a zombie” dilemma.
“Shaun of the Dead” is in select theaters Sept. 24 and it’s worth seeing. I give this film five Louie’s out of five Louie’s. I’m also nominating this movie for best zombie film at this year’s Louie Awards.