Best British Films: 18. Shaun of the Dead

I'm just now kicking off that project I told you about a few days ago, in which I'll be watching every title on The Observer's list of 25 Best British films. I'm starting with Shaun of the Dead, the zombie comedy starring British funny man Simon Pegg.

Shaun of the Dead starts off with a blundering, hungover Shaun lazily shuffling through life with his best friend Ed. His idiotic, apathetic approach to life costs him his girlfriend of three years, Liz, and fails to alert him of the zombie apocalypse taking place just outside his door. Pretty soon, Shaun sees the error of his ways and the flesh-eating monsters taking over and sets off to save his family and friends by hiding out in a grungy local pub, The Winchester.

The film mixes shocking gore with satiric wit splendidly. Pegg and Nick Frost are one of the best modern comedy duos I've seen, the characters are hysterically incompetent, and this is finally a zombie flick that doesn't take itself seriously at all. Nothing is sacred in this hilariously violent farce that easily secures a place for itself as one of the best comedies of the decade. ***1/2 / 4