Shaun of the Dead (2004)
I can remember it clearly. It was my first year in college, I was in the school theater involved in some type of rehearsal and people were discussing the virtues of Napoleon Dynamite and Shaun of the Dead. I had not seen either film, though I had heard of Napoleon Dynamite because of the many, many TV commercials that aired for it. Little did I know that the better comedy was left out of the spotlight that year.
It would be a few months later until I finally saw it, at a house party where a friend brought the DVD. It was literally one of the most laugh out loud, funniest movies I had ever seen. Growing up on Mel Brooks and Monty Python films, I’ve seen my share of funny but this was “fanboy” comedy; which took it to a whole new level.
This was not the first outing for the Edgar Wright/Simon Pegg/Nick Frost team. They had worked together on a wonderfully funny show called Spaced that had been off the air years before Shaun saw the light of day. As self professed, and clearly evident, film fans, they took to making a truly funny zombie film. Their product is a homage to a genre with their own unique stamp. The film follows your typical zombie plot. Unknown virus slowly affects people until most of the population is infected. Man realizes the danger and tries to lead others to safety as the world is slowly falling around them. People die and only a few make it out alive. What makes it funny is the fact that their encounters are a mixed bag of “what if” situations based on what we the audience have probably shouted to the screen for decades. In one scene, the group attempts to get to their safety zone, a pub called The Winchester, but must figure out a way to get around the hundreds of zombies present in the square. Their solution? Pretend to be zombies and slyly pass right by them. This ends in the predicted disaster but the fact that you the viewer are on the edge of your seat waiting to see what will be their fate while at the same time laughing at how ridiculous it all is; well that is what makes the film so damn special.
It’s this blend of humor and horror that I think really makes this film stand out from others in the genre. Evil Dead was comedic but in such a campy way that it can’t be taken seriously. Even if it can make your jump. The closest to the Shaun model I’ve seen has been a little film from Norway called Dead Snow. The thrills and laughs seemingly flow, but the characters are so ridiculous that you really don’t care about their fate, even if it is a fun ride. The writing in Shaun of the Dead is quick, witty and very British. You care about the characters. So when one by one they are picked off by the zombie herd, you’re affected.
It’s a shame that such a great film got shafted by, in my personal opinion, a mediocre one. However Shaun of the Dead has become a cult classic, particularly with the 18-30 crowd, and it was able to introduce Americans to Wright/Pegg/Frost’s brand of British humor. Which is much different from the outlandishness of Python as well as the dark undertones of Ricky Gervais. While their second theatrical outing, Hot Fuzz, I found to not be up to the same standards. Shaun of the Dead continues to remain in my top list of funniest movies of all time.
Day 1: Favorite film
Day 2: Least favorite film
Day 3: Favorite comedy
Day 4: Favorite drama
Day 5: Favorite action
Day 6: Favorite horror
Day 7: Favorite animated feature
Day 8: Favorite thriller
Day 9: Favorite musical
Day 10: Favorite foreign film
Day 11: Favorite kid’s movie
Day 12: Favorite love story
Day 13: Favorite chick flick
Day 14: Favorite documentary
Day 15: Favorite play adaptation
Day 16: Favorite book adaptation
Day 17: Least favorite book adaptation
Day 18: Film that is your guilty pleasure
Day 19: Film that made you cry the hardest
Day 20: Movie with your favorite actress
Day 21: Movie with your favorite actor
Day 22: Movie you wish you could live in
Day 23: Movie that inspires you
Day 24: Movie with your favorite soundtrack
Day 25: Movie with the most beautiful scenery
Day 26: Movie you’re most embarrassed to say you like
Day 27: Movie with your favorite villain
Day 28: Movie with your favorite hero
Day 29: First movie you ever remember watching
Day 30: Last movie you watched
Filed under: Film Tagged: | 30 day meme, Film, horror, Simon Pegg
