"their boring and routine existence"

It's the commentary on their existence that makes this a cut above, I agree. In a way, it's funny you reviewed "Nebraska" on the same day as this, as that film is an art movie response to a mind-numbingly dull, alcohol-swilling, daily despairing existence, whereas this is a quadruple-whammy genre response to the exact same thing:

(1) whacking the theme of routine and despair on the head with horror: by likening the zombies to the oblivion-seeking living, then going to war with them;

(2) comedy: generating endless laughs by the obliviousness of the boys, as they stumble through lives downing drinks, Nebraska style, unable to distinguish zombie hell from their daily hell;

(3) romance: as Simon Pegg's character uses his newly acquired zombie skills to fight for the girl he lost through his despairing uselessness;

(4) buddy picture: that Simon Pegg and Nick Frost live, and have a language all of their own, that transcends and transforms the horror of their lives, both pre- and post-zombie apocalypse into something better ,is special. The plot works in a lovely twist on the friends-not friends-friends again plot structure from most buddy pictures.

All in all, a combo-genre classic married to a wealth and depth of meaning.

Thanks for reviewing a Brit pic. Love it. :)

The fact that genre makes the underlying art theme gripping shouldn't surprise, but it is the sheer surfeit of genres that makes this an exceptional film.

That and the fact that Simon Pegg and