A great cross genre comedy zombie movie!

Rating: 8/10 (13 December 2015)

Shaun of the Dead is a coming of age movie, set inside of a zombie apocalypse, with a heavy comedic undertone. The film does not exactly following the guidelines for a traditional horror or comedy film, and that is in no small part what makes the film worthwhile. The mashing of genres, while still staying the path of a theme in which the main character is learning about himself and getting some direction in his life, makes this film appealing for many different audiences.
Simon Pegg stars as Shaun, a man who has grown into adulthood with no direction and not much going for him. He has a job at a small store where he commands almost no respect. He lives with two friends, Ed, played by Nick Frost, and Pete. Ed has even less direction than Shaun, and spends the majority of his time playing video games or drinking with Shaun at their favorite pub, The Winchester. Pete sees both Shaun and Ed for the men that they are, and calls Shaun out for it early in the movie.
Shaun's troubles do not end with his work or roommates. Shaun has a less than ideal relationship with his mother, mainly because of his step-father with whom he has a very strained relationship. Shaun is also on the verge of losing his girlfriend, Liz, who is played by Kate Ashfield. After a last straw, Liz calls quits to their relationship, and Shaun ends up drinking with Ed at The Winchester. The next morning, Shaun and Ed wake up to a zombie outbreak which is taking over their town. Shaun and Ed devise a plan to rescue Shaun's mother, now ex-girlfriend Liz, and make their way to The Winchester to wait out the catastrophe.
The explanation of how they plan to save the day is done through a montage of scenes that show the group, under ideal circumstances, rescued and enjoying beer while waiting for a solution. The comedy used in the montage is similar to that of another zombie-comedy movie, Zombieland. These montages add to the comedic element of the film, showing perceived comical events from a third person point of view outside of the character's own.
Shaun's first chance to begin to change his ways and show he is growing up happens as soon as he rescues his mother and step- father, Phillip, Liz, and her roommates. Phillip has been bitten by one of the zombies and is going to die. Shaun is able to reconcile with Phillip before his passing and ultimate reanimation as a zombie. He is seen shedding tears for Phillip, and has to break the news to his mother, showing he is ready to start taking some responsibility.
Later, after making some more laughable, yet poor choices, the group finally makes it to The Winchester, where they decide to hold out. Once there, the daylight fades to night, and the lighting used to convey the scene is noticeably darker than the remainder of the film. This is likely used to help the audience anticipate the coming tragedies of the film, since the movie is a comedy as well and is not meant to shock the viewer like a true horror film. Shortly after dark, and due to more hilarity on the part of Ed, Liz's roommates are lost to the zombie hoard, and Ed is also bitten. The remaining three find their way to the basement, ready to call it quits and contemplating suicide, when an escape through a freight elevator is discovered. Since Ed is already infected and going to die, he decides to stay behind. This is also another turning point for Shaun, who has had Ed has his safety net and companion while making nothing of themselves. Shaun has to say goodbye to his friend, and take control to try to save himself and Liz. Once in the street, the two are rescued by the military. The scene reopens a few months later, and it is learned that the zombie outbreak has not only been controlled, but the zombie are being used as labor for the survivors. Shaun and Liz have moved in together, and Shaun seems to have found his feet and trying to make something of himself. In the last scene, Shaun is walking out to the shed, where it is discovered that zombie Ed is still around, kept there by Shaun where they play video games and still enjoy each other's company.
Overall, this film is very enjoyable strictly for entertainment value, but still follows a coming of age theme for a viewer who may be looking for a deeper meaning or value within the film. The comedy makes it light-hearted and easy to follow, and plays very well in today's zombie obsessed industry. This is a must watch for anyone looking for a fun movie that does not require a lot of emotional investment or thought.