“Cockneys vs. Zombies” (2012) began with such promise — with cool, funny characters; capable comedic actors; an attempt at a decent story; and dry, witty British dialogue.  It looked like it could be a cool unauthorized companion film to “Shaun of the Dead” (2004).

Sadly, then, it didn’t pan out.  The offbeat, character-driven banter gave way to a lot of slapstick that didn’t really work for me.  And problems with pacing and tension prevented this from being an effective horror film.

I’d give this a 4 out of 10.  Oh well.

I have two questions after this film about British slang, with which I try to stay current.  (What can I say?  Some great horror movies come out of Britain.  I love it when Frank tells the crow in “28 Days Later” to “get out of it.”)

1.  When someone gets mad at another, they call him a … mop-head?  Moppet?  Muppet?  They always say that word so fast.
2.  If somebody says something stupid, you call them a “plum?”