Works as comedy, works as horror. Inspired!

Rating: 8/10 (29 July 2004)

Praise be! A Britcom from people with TV backgrounds that has an actual STORY rather than playing like a string of sketches... ! The in-jokes and nods to fans of "Spaced" are there in their hundreds, but can be disregarded altogether without any apparent effect on the 'enjoyment' factor. It really is gratifying to see a film from fairly modest origins so smartly assembled in most departments.
It's also pleasing to see aspirations that go beyond the limited confines of its genre. I would classify this as a comedy first and foremost, but what's majorly impressive is that the horror elements are so scarcely the butt of the jokes. It must have been tempting to slide into 'parody' at times, but generally the makers take great pains to avoid that potentially 'lazy' avenue here. It's such a clever meld of genres that it represents the birth of a whole new category - the "rom-zom-com"!
The 'scale' of laughter was gradually progressive, in my case; beginning with wry smiles to small chuckles and on occasion all-out guffaws. This is one of those watches where the whole thing gets more enjoyable as it goes along. The 'small details' I actually often found funnier than the obvious one-liners (witness the corner-shop scene!) I'd call it 'character-comedy' at its best because we get so attached to the principles. It becomes a sort of 'bonding ritual' to laugh at the many foibles that are purposely brought to our attention in the early set-up scenes. By the denouement you'll be rooting for Shaun and his slacker mates to triumph because the depiction of their humdrum lives shattered is probably very much like how it would be in our own cases!
If a slogan were to be plucked from this review for the purposes of 'advertising', (I'm open to offers - minimal charge!) I'd have no regrets about being shamelessly cheesy enough to label "Shaun of the Dead" as being "The freshest comedy treat of 2004"... !
(8/10 or ****/***** in profile ratings system)