When you think about zombie movies, the thoughts ‘heartwarming’ and ‘a great family comedy’ don’t normally come to mind, unless the movie happens to be Fido, one of the latest movie releases from Lionsgate Films. Fido is one of those comedies you don’t expect to see, yet you simply have to watch because of its premise. What is so surprising is how good a movie Fido actually is.

This story puts a twist on the life of families in a town more reminiscent of Leave it to Beaver then Dawn of the Dead and I must say I loved it. Fido is a keeper and one I’d recommend for anyone regardless of age, interest, or favorite movie style. It’s hard to place it in any one genre, because it will appeal to the horror fans, comedy lovers, and those who love a great family drama as well as the cynics and critics looking for a smart yet unpretentious film.

Release Information:
Fido is set to be released by Lionsgate Films on October 23, 2007. The movie, which was directed by Andrew Currie and written by Currie and Robert Chomiak, has been compared to the likes of Shaun of the Dead though it’s not as quirky.

Fido Plot:
The movie starts with one of those quaint, educational videos they used to show in the 1950s. You know; the ones about what to do if there is an atomic bomb while kids are at school; only this one is about the zombies. The zombies are actually dead people on Earth who come back to life. Their re-birth is caused by radiation from space. In the video, students at the local elementary school learn how to kill a zombie (with a gun) and the history of the zombie war (which the humans won), as well as information on the brilliant scientist who invented the zombie collar.

Since zombies feast on human flesh, something or someone had to stop them from taking over the planet. To do so, the collar was invented. It seems a bit like a shock collar you might put on a dog to make them behave. With the zombie’s collared, the humans keep zombies as pets, servants, and even companions, on very rare occasions. However, zombies are very closely monitored by Zomcon, a large corporation that monitors their behavior and punishes those who don’t follow the Zombie laws (such as always keeping them on a leash if you’re a kid).

Timmy Robinson’s mother, Helen (Carrie-Anne Moss), doesn’t want to be the only person on the block without a zombie so she brings home the zombie Timmy (K’Sun Ray) later names Fido (Billy Connolly). Unfortunately, her husband, Bill (Dylan Baker), hates zombies because his own father tried to kill him in zombie form. He also says they cannot afford to keep Fido, but Heleln wins out and he stays.

When Fido accidentally eats the nosy neighbor, Mrs. Henderson (Mary Black), all hell breaks loose and Timmy learns a lot about his family, his relationship with Fido, and how one zombie can turn the world upside down. Additional cast members include the Bottoms family, with the father (Henry Czerny) working for Zomcon, the mother (Jennifer Clement) befriending Helen, and the daughter, Cindy (Alexia Fast) having a crush and befriending Timmy; and the next door neighbor Mr. Theopolis (Tim Blake Nelson) and his zombie girlfriend, Tammy (Sonja Bennett).

Audio & Visual Quality:
Video quality doesn’t get much better than this. I loved the 1950s, retro vibe that was present in this DVD. It helped that the video quality was so good. It made Fido even more effective. The visual was transferred at an aspect ratio of 2.35:1 and is presented in a 16×9 anamorphic widescreen format. The audio quality was also exceptional. The music, spoken text, and any sound effects are presented on a consistently even level. I didn’t have to play with my volume when I watched Fido. The audio was transferred to DVD as Dolby Digital 5.1 surround sound. Subtitles are available in both English and Spanish.

Bonus Features:
Fido has lots of goodies for those who love extras and equally enjoy this film. First, there is audio commentary that can be turned on when you watch the movie, with Andrew Currie, Carrie-Anne Moss, and producer Mary Anne Waterhouse. There is a featurette included called “The Making of Fido”. Additional extras include a blooper reel, a composer select scene audio commentary track, deleted scenes with optional audio commentary from Andrew Currie, the Fido theatrical trailer, and galleries for concept art, storyboard, and makeup.

Bottom Line:
Fido encapsulates its audiences in a new, satirical 1950s, while still retaining its unforgettable charm. You’ll wish your family was just like the Robinsons and want your own zombie, by the time this movie comes to an end. With excellent acting all around (especially by Moss, Ray, Fast, and Connolly) and the ability of director, Currie to keep a main character so interesting without having him utter a single phrase (Connolly as Fido), there’s nothing negative to be said about Fido. This one comes highly recommended.

Rating:

Technorati Tags: Fido, DVD, Movie Review, Comedy, Carrie-Anne Moss, Billy Connolly, 1950s, satire