Three years back Simon Pegg and company brought us zombie hilarity with the great British horror-comedy Shaun Of The Dead. It was a movie that knew how to balance its comedy with its gore and that's what made it so damn good. It was one of the few tongue-in-cheek flesh eater flicks that managed to make much of an impression on me. And it was the last good one - at least until Fido came along.

Set in an 'alternate reality' universe that is a cross between "Leave It To Beaver" and gut munching, Fido is the brainchild of co-writer/director Andrew Currie and its whimsical mix of sending up the squeaky clean sitcoms of the 50's as well as spoofing zombie movies makes it one of the most entertaining movies I've seen so far in 2007. Currie manages to find just the right mix between good natured comedy, off-beat humour, and mild horror - Hell, he even has the nerve to kill off a couple of bullying cub scouts not once, but two times!

The movie opens with news reel footage that tells us a plague has swept across North America that is bringing the dead back to life. It could pose a major problem but, luckily for us, Zomcom is here to help. Using their technology to create collars that turn human hungry undead into subservient butlers and pets (as well as building fences around cities so the dead can't get in), Zomcom is quite the company.

Enter Timmy Robinson (K'Sun Ray), a youngster who just can't seem to do anything right. His parents are mostly uninterested in his problems, he's being bullied at school, and he just can't seem to make any friends. But all that's about to change when Fido (Scottish comedian Billy Connelly) comes into his life.

After Mr. Bottoms (Henry Czerny) moves in next door, Timmy's mother (Carrie-Anne Moss) decides it's in her families best interest to stop being the only household on the block that doesn't have their very own zombie. Of course, the fact Bottoms just happens to be a high ranking official with Zomcom helps her decision along.

From there, Fido becomes your typical "boy and his dog" movie, the only difference being that when Fido's collar starts screwing up he tends to chomp on people around the neighbourhood. In fact, Timmy has to try and cover things up when Fido ends-up eating one of the town's particularly mean old ladies. Along the way, Timmy has to protect Fido from the suspicious Bottoms, mom starts to fall for their new "pet" a little bit too much, and the movie ends with a rescue mission after Fido is taken away to do menial work at Zomcom.

While it sometimes feels like it should've been a little bit more edgier and darker humoured, this is still a highly entertaining effort that gets lots of mileage out of bumping two quite different genres against each other. There's lots of pleasing set pieces here (such as when Timmy's father sends him off to school with the present of a handgun to try and bond with him), a "wink wink " attitude about things, and a cast of wackier than wacky characters.

Ray is pretty "aw shucks" perfect in his role and Moss pulls her "June Cleaver" performance off (she's miles away from 'Trinity' in the Matrix movies), but the true star of the show here is Connelly. With no dialogue and ashen make-up, Connelly gives Fido enough personallity that you can't help but love the big lug. Sure, he might enjoy a bit of human flesh, but that doesn't mean he's not the most loyal friend a kid could have. Connelly's use of facial expressions and "curious" attitude, makes Fido an endearing character.

While Currie's flick does stumble a little bit in the finale (with its so-so staged action and 'happy ending'), Fido is a success. It does what it sets out to do with ease and is certain to make you smile - it's also a great diversion and should make even the most jaded horror fan chuckle (unless of course they're deader inside than Fido and his fellow undead colleges). (Chris Hartley, 4/4/07)

Directed By: Andrew Currie.
Written By: Robert Chomiak, Andrew Currie.

Starring: Henry Czerny, Carrie-Anne Moss, Billy Connelly, Tim Blake Nelson.