|
|
|
|
|
Just a couple of decades ago, radioactive chemicals turned the world�s dead into zombies who began roaming the streets, looking for their next kill. But the terrible Zombie Wars came to an end after a company called Zomcon figured out how to contain the zombies�and even domesticate them. Now, as long as the red light on their collar is on, they�re as submissive as household pets�and they make great servants. If the light goes out, though, they immediately return to their flesh-eating ways�so even young children are taught to shoot for the head in case of a zombie attack. It�s the only way to protect themselves.
Tired of being the only family in the neighborhood without a zombie of their own, Helen Robinson (Carrie-Anne Moss) ignores her husband�s fears and brings one home. Though their son, Timmy (K�Sun Ray), is initially afraid of the new zombie, he soon finds that it makes a great friend�which Timmy needs, since all the kids at school think he�s a freak, and his dad�s too busy golfing to play with him. So Timmy and his zombie, Fido (Billy Connolly), become the best of friends. And though Timmy�s dad wants Fido gone, even Timmy�s mom gets attached to him. In fact, she realizes that he�s much more loyal and attentive than her husband. But when Fido�s collar accidentally shuts off�and he ends up eating the old lady across the street�Timmy�s got to work to cover it up, or he�ll lose his only friend.
Fido is a mix of Leave It to Beaver (or, perhaps more appropriately, Lassie) and Night of the Living Dead. The idealistic �50s setting, populated with the living dead makes for one quirky movie. It�s definitely unlike anything you�ve seen before�but it�s not as outrageous as you might expect. Believe it or not, it�s not even all that scary, considering it�s technically a zombie movie. In fact, when it all comes down to it, Fido is just the story of a boy and his, um, pet�that is, if that pet were a naturally blood-thirsty yet domesticated zombie. Replace Lassie with a zombie, and you�ve got the gist of it. Though its subject matter is absolutely bizarre, this eccentric film has a pretty standard story. There�s not as much action as you�d expect from a zombie movie, and there aren�t as many solid laughs as you�d expect from a quirky comedy. And after you get beyond the whole zombies-as-pets novelty, there�s not much left to keep you entertained.
Fido is worth checking out, if only for the fact that it�s so�odd. But don�t expect too much. The concept is brilliant, and it has its share of great moments, but this quirky zom com could have used a little more life.
|
|
|
|
