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Back Shelf Beauties
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Shaun of the Dead Last year, we were talking about the cool British zombie film 28 Days Later, where zombies took over England with survivors left to wonder if they would ever escape or if zombies had taken over the whole world (I love typing the word "zombies," can you tell?). Then, in early 2004, we had a remake of the classic zombie horror film, Dawn of the Dead, but that wasn't the end of it. Zombie fever has taken over the Cineplex, and this week's zombie film, Shaun of the Dead, provides a welcome twist. It's a comedy, a zombie comedy if you will, and a very good one at that. Simon Pegg stars as Shaun - a British department store salesman with a boring life, boring job and boring friends. Everyday, as Shaun rides the bus to work, tries not to get fired, then hangs out at the local pub, but, all along, Shaun neglects to notice he is slowly being surrounded by ZOMBIES! That's right, while he and other working people are leading a zombie-like mental existence, real members of the undead set are slowly appearing all over England. Shaun and his slacker buddy, Ed (Nick Frost), haven't noticed as they play video games and watch everything on TV but the news, however, when they finally do discover what's going on, Shaun and Ed decide to seek safety and save those they love, including Shaun's mom (Penelope Wilton) and his ex-girlfriend (the very gorgeous Kate Ashfield). Can they fight off the zombie threat? Is there any hope? Shaun of the Dead is one of the funniest movies of the year, and a classic genre spoofing film. Throughout the first two acts, the film is brilliantly subversive and funny with great reactions from Pegg and Frost as they portray the two most idiotic zombie fighters ever seen on film. From taking pictures of the creatures to deciding which record albums to hurl at the zombies (you don't want to scratch the good ones), these two guys are the dumb and dumber of horror movies. Pegg and Frost make a wonderful pair as they compliment each other well and come off like old friends, while the script from director Edgar Wright and leading man Pegg is full of great dialogue and silly situations. Pegg and Wright know a little something about zombie movies as they spoof the survivors' reactions and the way zombies move around as well as throw in some relationship-based jokes pertaining to Shaun's girlfriend and his problems with his family. The two don't pull any punches as anything is up for a laugh, but they commit a huge mistake by making the film more dramatic at the end. The last act is more of a traditional zombie film than the first 2/3rds, and that's a disappointment. Pegg and Wright seem to run out of jokes, so they play it safe instead of continuing their groundbreaking script and story. They make up for it in the end, but it's too late to save the 4 Waffle rating at that point. Even if you don't like zombie movies, you are going to get a good laugh out of Shaun of the Dead. Try it for a change of pace this weekend. 3 ½ Waffles (Out Of 4) Copyright 2004 - WaffleMovies.com
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