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Created Nov 25, 2007 06:16PM PST • Edited Nov 25, 2007 06:16PM PST

1. Quality

2. Summary

   Perfect 5.0

   The Robinsons are one of the only families in the neighborhood who don’t own a pet zombie. This is largely because Bill Robinson (Baker) deathly fears them. When he was younger his father turned in to a zombie and he was forced to kill him. Ever since then zombies and his father were subjects that were forbidden. This led back to the time of the zombie wars. The dead and the living battled it out. Some of the zombies are still wild, but they are secluded. The ones who live in a broader community have been domesticated. They are trained to serve their owners. They all have collars around their necks which control them. If they have any dangerous motives an alarm on the collar goes off.
   Bill’s wife, Helen (Moss) is very worried about what others think. Next to the Robinsons, the Bottoms’ family moves in. They have many pet zombies and worried about how she will be judged, Helen claims that her family has one too. So she adopts one from Zomcon, the organization who took control over zombies. Her son, Timmy (Ray) responds very well to this. He really has no friends and is somewhat of an outcast. He is often picked on at school. Timmy names their pet zombie, Fido (Connolly). Fido quickly becomes Timmy’s best friend. The only problem is that after awhile he develops violent tendencies. After he murders the neighbor’s mother, Timmy tries to be as careful as he can with Fido. He knows if anyone found out about what he had done that he would be taken away from him and possibly killed.

4. Acting

   Great 4.0

   K’ Sun Ray plays Timmy very well, the seemingly run of the mill son. As unimpressionable as he may seem, he does spark at least a chance for change in his community. Carrie-Anne Moss had a more complex role since she was a very round and dynamic character. She goes through all of the stages from weak to compassionate and strong. As the film goes on she becomes wiser and seems to be gaining a more enriched life even if it is flawed. One thing that seems to be standing in the way of this is Bill played by Dylan Baker. He is an interesting and usually somewhat sympathetic individual, but here he remains pretty flat. He is supposed to though. Although, he isn’t the most threatening person to our protagonist, he is still not someone meant to be liked. Bill remains cold and distant for much of the film. By far the best performance was by Billy Connolly as Fido. He conveyed thought, reliability, concern, protection, attraction, and emotion without saying one word. Just by facial expressions, gestures, and a simple grunt he was able to establish a character who was very diverse. He was dangerous, but he did more good than anyone else had and was so warm that it seemed to even out.

5. Male Stars Great 4.0

6. Female Stars Great 4.0

7. Female Costars Great 4.0

8. Male Costars Great 4.0

10. Film

    Perfect 5.0

    Combining zombies in to a peaceful environment is very unique. They are usually associated with havoc. The dangerous habits was still there, but it was much more under the surface. This was a way of mocking the genre without completely changing the nature of the subject. Being a zombie is something that most of the people want to avoid at all costs. It is interesting that Timmy says that maybe it would be better to be one of the living dead rather than laying in dirt under the ground. It suggests a form of life after death. Some of the zombies do show signs of their intelligence, so it could almost be like reliving. Timmy sees the zombie, Fido, itself rather than just using it like everyone else. This represents not going along with all of the norms of society. Before Fido is even in the picture this is established. It is suggested that part of the reason why Timmy is an outsider is that he thinks for himself rather than mindlessly following others. Fido is about conformity being the easy and dominant thing. The way the people in the community follow Zomcon they become zombie like themselves. Helen cares way too much about what others think about her. She goes against her husband and brings his deepest fear right in to his house just so she can have acceptance. This ends up being a good thing though. Timmy is able to have a friend, a protector, and a loyal companion who he can count on. He has never had anything like that before. Another important relationship in the film is with Fido and Helen. Fido goes from a pet to a support system to something much more. Helen begins to think very highly of him. It is no wonder since Fido seems to be filling the place that Bill is leaving empty. He is there for the family and is a far better father than Bill is to Timmy. Fido also seems to help Helen’s confidence. He makes her more of her own person and not so dependent on other people or what they think.
    The execution of the film is extremely well done. The dialogue is very strong and helps build upon the characters. It doesn’t forget to remind us that we are in the picture perfect 1950’s. The characters all seem very peaceful on the outside, but very few of them actually are. The characters offer immense comedy and wit all around. The film shows fears, hopes, injustices, deceit and friendships. It does this through a very quirky feel through out the film, which becomes intoxicating. Fido is a very unique and refreshing movie with comical flair and interlaced horror driven actions.

11. Direction Perfect 5.0

12. Play Perfect 5.0

13. Music Perfect 5.0

14. Visuals Perfect 5.0
15. Content

16. Edge

    Risqué 2.5

    The most violent parts of the film is when the neighbor’s mother is killed and when the two bullies die. Neither of these are very gruesome though.

17. Sex Titillating 2.5

18. Violence Fierce 2.5

19. Rudeness Salty 2.5

21. Reality

    Fantasy 5.0

    Fido is pretty far from the reality of things. There are no zombies around and especially no zombie pets. That is what makes it seem so wacky and out there. It shows the roles that were placed in society of men being superior to women in the 1950’s. As time goes on and the characters develop, there is a challenge of this as well as other things that maybe shouldn’t be accepted as freely as they are. The theme of the film is realistic and is present in our society. Everyone conforms to the ideas that Zomcon gives to them. Acceptance is gained by going along with others. Big business takes advantage of the townpeople and have the control. This is all very true today. Timmy and Fido attempt to change this. They think for themselves and don’t give in to the traps around them.

22. Circumstantial Fantasy 5.0

23. Biological Fantasy 5.0

24. Physical Fantasy 5.0