Not Great, but One of the Best Spoofs Out There

Rating: 7/10 (15 February 2005)

There are movies like Army of Darkness that poke fun at themselves and get some laughs along the way. There are movies like Scary Movie that pretty much play out as a long sequence of gross jokes. But then there are the very rare films (like Shaun of the Dead) that belittle entire genres of movies while still showing life of their own, creativity, and a kind of weirdness that can't help but entertain.
Shaun of the Dead gives us Shaun, a hero of all heroes, who must save the world from zombies that bite people to turn them into zombies themselves. Shaun's tragic flaw is his friend, Ed, who pretty much sits around all day and does nothing, but he and Ed need to rescue Shaun's mom (and stepdad) and Shaun's ex-girlfriend (and her flatmates). None of the performances are especially dramatic, but all actors, in both major and supporting roles, do quite a good job.
Everything is done in jest, with kind of an obviously feigned seriousness that makes the film all the more hilarious. Also, a brilliant comparison near the beginning of the film gives it creative flavor and strikes interest with the viewer. The characters' reactions to the zombies, especially the reactions of Shaun and Ed, are very similar to the reactions of regular characters in zombie films, but satirical enough to draw many laughs. There are some specific scenes that stand out as especially creative and bizarre, but they must be viewed for full effect.
The direction, then, by Edgar Wright, isn't earth-shattering, but it's adequate for the subject matter, and I, personally, enjoyed the non-original music selections at place in the film. The film's strongest point is its screenplay, but it does contain some confusion for the viewer. For instance, there are certain points in the film that approach the realm of the sentimental, and the viewer cannot figure out whether what's on screen is meant to be viewed jokingly or meant to evoke sympathy for these brilliant characters. And even though the film is very, very funny, there are lines, especially those that make use of scatological humor, that are very not funny and leave a sour taste in the viewer's mouth.
Yet this movie entertains almost to its full potential. Don't watch if you're looking for something profound or classic, but definitely take in a viewing of Shaun of the Dead if you're looking for a comedy that's pretty smart and often hilarious and creative.
Final Grade: B.