I don't know if it's just the movies I've seen, or if Australian comedies are just a very particular type of comedy, that I don't completely get.
The verbal delivery of every character is so cartoony and reminiscent of marionette shows. It's overly melodramatic and not credible as human beings speaking to one another. So the overwhelming majority of the comedy was always a little bit difficult for me to get into. Having said that there is one situational joke that I found hysterical that occurs outside a club. Without spoiling anything, I can say that when a character delivers the line "say no to that," was the absolute best part of the film for me. But every other scripted joke, or jokey banter between characters was cringy and forced, to me.
There are also many jokes, premises and themes very significant to the story that revolve around what I can only assume is the filmmakers' attempt to be LGBTQ-friendly. Those were incredibly disappointing in their execution. I believe that this is the type of help-attempt that the LGBTQ community would say "thanks but no thanks" to.
Having said that, the overall premise/storyline is cute. The pacing is good, as the movie doesn't spend too much time on unnecessary "universe building." We arrive right away in a world where we have to accept that a goof-ball stoner can see dead people, and one of them needs his help.
Everything that ensues after that is silly and cute. Worth a watch, just for that exchange outside the club.
Review of Dead
