Review: Shaun of the Dead (**)

SHAUN OF THE DEAD
A film review by Steve Rhodes

Copyright 2004 Steve Rhodes

RATING (0 TO ****): **


SHAUN OF THE DEAD is a well executed one-joke movie. But, even it's a good
joke, it's only one joke. Once the zombies arrive, which is early on in
this zombie spoof, you can watch any ten minutes of the movie and get the
full comedic effect. Spending more time with these wimpy undead, who move
at about 60 i.p.m. (inches per minute), doesn't add to your viewing
pleasure, it just repeats the same funny moments, like listening to an old
record that gets stuck in a groove.



Shaun (Simon Pegg), Ed (Nick Frost) and Pete (Peter Serafinowicz) are three
doofus buddies who share a slovenly kept house. Playing video games like
they did when they were teens a decade or two ago, they are oblivious to
what is happening until the zombies show up and refuse to leave. Scrambling
to come up with a plan, Shaun hits on the idea of hiding out someplace safe
and someplace where Ed can smoke -- their favorite pub. Pete doesn't get to
go along since he has already been bitten. As Shaun and Ed whack one slow
moving undead after another with their garden shovel and cricket mallet, the
body count rises. As the television news reporter explains, all you need to
do to stop these monsters is to smash their heads.



I laughed for a while, but I quickly found myself hoping for some
cataclysmic disaster that would wipe out everyone -- the living and the
undead. Lots of a slightly funny thing is not funnier. It's just tiresome.
But, if stumbling zombies are all it takes to float your boat, SHAUN OF THE
DEAD could be just the monster movie for you.



SHAUN OF THE DEAD runs a long 1:39. It is rated R for "zombie violence/gore
and language" and would be acceptable for teenagers.



The film is playing in nationwide release now in the United States. In the
Silicon Valley, it is showing at the AMC theaters, the Century theaters and
the Camera Cinemas.



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