Overrated. Over-hyped. Underwhelming.

Rating: Null/10 (24 September 2004)

I haven't seen a movie fail to live up to the hype this much since The Blair Witch Project. Remember how it was supposed to be the scariest movie of all time? Then do you remember sitting in the theater cheering for the witch to kill off the three crybabies who kept fussing over a stupid map?
Well, if you go into Shaun of the Dead expecting one of the funniest movies of the year and a masterpiece in the spoof genre, then you're going to be very disappointed as you stare at the screen and wonder when the humor will start. Please don't believe any of the reviewers claiming it's "a laugh-a-minute." The only way that would be possible is if you're referring to the trailer. It took almost 30 minutes before the FIRST laugh ever came.
That's not an exaggeration. About the first 30 minutes of the story are spent showing us how much of a slacker Shaun is and how irresponsible he is in his relationship with Liz. I guess this is all supposed to make us like him more when he decides to save Liz and everybody around him from the zombies. Doesn't work. I was just sitting there bored out of my mind waiting for something, anything to happen.
The best I can possibly say about this movie is it's merely OK. I think a viewer's enjoyment will be largely based on his perception going into the movie. After watching the trailer, I was expecting an all-out comedy/parody. And there are a few funny moments (for example, Shaun and his friend act somewhat nonchalantly towards the zombies at first as they use cricket bats and old LPs to do battle), but most of the humor can be found in the trailer.
The main problem with Shaun of the Dead is it has major identity conflict. It doesn't know what it wants to be. It spoofs the zombie genre for a bit, but then we have to sit through emotional moments that put a damper on everything. I thought this was supposed to be a comedy, so why do I have to sit through a scene with Shaun crying while trying to make decisions about what to do to certain people who have turned into zombies?
And then you have some pretty graphic moments that make it seem like the movie wants to have a legitimate horror movie feel. This doesn't work because the movie isn't the least bit scary. The result is the movie doesn't know exactly what it wants to be. For that reason, I think the mainstream American audience won't connect with it.
The people this will connect with the most are the coffeehouse artsy types who'll love discussing the social commentary. But for me, the social commentary is about as effective as shaving with a rubber band. Exactly. Way too much time is dedicated to trying to show us that we all live zombie-like lives. We sit glaze-eyed in front of the TV playing video games, we all follow our own little cliques, we head to work in the same routine every day. Yeah, that's great. You could've expressed that point in a single sentence.
There are a handful of funny and clever moments (particularly the end), but I would've liked to have seen more "shock value" moments played for laughs. Unfortunately, Shaun of the Dead looks to be throwing ideas against the wall to see what sticks. Plus, the film makers are apparently in love with repetition. I hear the wedding is in April. For example, the camera pans up from someone's feet as he stumbles about. We see the figure yawning and making a weird sound. Oh, it's Shaun. Look, he's acting like a zombie! How cute. Apparently a critic somewhere must've laughed insanely during a press screening, so they decided it'd be great to repeat this gag. ONCE WAS ENOUGH!
And please don't tell me I just don't understand British humor. Folks, I get the joke, it just ain't that funny. If this is the best the British have to offer these days in regard to comedy, then I've never been prouder to be an American.
THE GIST
I have no desire to see this again, and I certainly won't recommend it. If you're looking for some good British comedy then I highly recommend checking out John Cleese's Fawlty Towers. But if you're in the mood to chuckle once or twice during a movie and then fight the temptation to fall asleep, then Shaun of the Dead will fill that bill. Let me put it as bluntly as I possibly can: Don't believe the hype.