We've all had that moment where, thanks to their ubiquitous presence in almost every aspect of popular culture, we've idly wondered what the heck we'd do if zombies suddenly appeared and started to ruin everyone's plans. Unfortunately for myself, and any other native of this dreary little island, the British don't really have ready access to firearms or giant hunting crossbows, putting our chances of having a fun-filled end of days firmly on the slim side. This rather bleak outlook has always stuck with British zombie stories, but then along came Shaun of the Dead...

Loser Shaun (Simon Pegg)'s life is going nowhere and, after losing girlfriend Liz (Kate Ashfield), he decides he needs to man-up and sort his life out. However, the dead are returning to life and have begun attacking the living, but to Shaun it's just one more obstacle to overcome. With best friend Ed (Nick Frost) in tow and cricket bat in hand, Shaun must brave zombies, his stepfather and Liz's annoying friends if he ever wants to have a chance at the life he so desperately wants.

What makes Shaun of the Dead work so well is the way how it plays Shaun's mundane, everyday problems against the threat of a legion of walking corpses. While the zombies are certainly dangerous, they almost become a background issue for Shaun, who is so focused on getting his own life back on track that even the undead don't seem to phase him. This dedication to his cause makes Shaun immediately likable and makes you want him to succeed. In fact, it's these everyday worries that make the comedy of Shaun of the Dead so funny; for the most part, the gags come from the characters dealing with their everyday issues against the backdrop of undead apocalypse, making for some hilarious juxtaposition, while the actual zombie bashing strikes a satisfying balance between silly and gory, with minimal practical effects and CGI used to produce something suitably gooey.

All in all, Shaun of the Dead is a tongue-in-cheek movie that takes one man's journey to win back the love of his life and throws a heap of zombies into the mix. Daft, heartwarming fun, with a generous spattering of blood on the side.