Dismissed as just a zombie-horror spoof, Shaun of the Dead deserves serious consideration for the funny, romantic, moving film that it really is. It's also pretty damn scary, too.
First off, Shaun of the Dead is not a parody and anyone expecting something akin to Scary Movie should be ashamed. Very ashamed. What Shaun of the Dead is, actually, is extraordinarily funny, occasionally startling, and surprisingly moving. Along with Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, it is one of the only truly original films of last year, and it's deserving of your attention. Immediately. The film is the brainchild of Simon Pegg (co-writer and star of the film) and Edgar Wright (co-writer and director of the film) whose previous outing, the revered Britcom Spaced, definitely put this film on my radar. My expectations were not unhuge. I expected great things and I was more than satisfied. Shaun of the Dead has been described as a "romantic comedy with zombies." But even that isn't enough. It has fraught family moments that ring honest and true, yielding some genuine emotion. It has real gore that will both shock and scare you. It's also a cunning treatise on what one should aspire for — an exciting, dangerous life or a boring, content one. This film ain't your regular bag o'beans. I've watched Shaun of the Dead with younger people and much older people, and it plays for both. For horror fans and non-horror fans (like myself). For romantic comedy fans (like myself) and for cynical bastards (like myself). It simply can't be defined. It certainly can't be contained.
Shaun of the Dead deals with a normal guy named Shaun whose split dedication to his best friend and his girlfriend has left the latter reconsidering their relationship. Shaun is every guy I know — he doesn't act nearly romantic enough to his girlfriend, he plays videogames, and he enjoys just having a drink with friends while resisting the temptation to become a full-fledged adult. Seeing him as such, Shaun's girlfriend Liz promptly dumps him. That night, Shaun and his best mate Ed go out, drinking well into the wee hours. In his drunken stupor, Shaun pledges that he's going to get Liz back and sort his life out. Of course, the next day is unusual in the fact that a good deal of the country has been turned into zombies. And thus, Shaun must risk life and limb to keep his friends alive, rescue his family, and get back together with his girlfriend.
The genius of the film is in the telling. Pegg and Wright are incredibly smart writers who map out their story with such detail and intelligence that you can't help but be impressed. Wright is a truly gifted director whose quick-witted, dynamic style grabs you immediately as we see people living zombified lives before they even go zombie. And the cast is as impressive as you could hope. Simon Pegg is an extraordinary comic actor who cannot make a wrong choice. The film also features the rock-solid Nick Frost (Spaced), the very funny and lovely Lucy Davis (The Office), and in smaller roles two fellow Spaced alums — Jessica Stevenson, who is always perfect, and Peter Serafinowicz, who plays comedic menace with aplomb. And with the presence of the ever-exceptional Bill Nighy and Penelope Wilton as Shaun's parents, you care about these characters instantly. Ultimately, Shaun behaves like we would if we were suddenly overcome with zombies. You even really fear for these characters' lives ... and as well you should. And on top of it all, yes, it's a very funny movie with a sense of humor that will leave you tittering (yes, tittering) long after the film's over. It's a clever flick that defies easy description, easy analysis, easy anything. And that's a damn fine thing. Shaun of the Dead is just so much more than we've come to expect and so much more than we probably deserve.
Diamond in the Rough is a weekly celebration of all those terrific entertainment possibilities being ignored by other media outlets.
