Edgar Wright

A big week's coming up for Edgar Wright, a Londoner now living part-time in the Hollywood Hills. On Tuesday, the director and co-writer of "Shaun of the Dead" and "Hot Fuzz" welcomes the DVD release of "Spaced," the British TV show starring frequent collaborator Simon Pegg. Wright and Pegg will sign copies of the disc Wednesday from 12:30 to 2:30 p.m. at Laser Blazer in L.A., and at 7, there will be a free screening at the ArcLight on Sunset.

In "Attack the Block," the feature writing and directing debut of British comedian Joe Cornish, an alien invasion occurs in a London public housing complex, and only a group of teenagers seems to notice. Pulsing with a rowdy energy, the film works as both a sci-fi horror flick and a teen adventure film. The greatest turn that Cornish pulls off is opening the movie with his protagonists mugging a woman (Jodie Whittaker) and still somehow making them seem, as the story unfolds, worth getting to know (while never excusing their nascent thuggery)

MOVIES Edgar Wright Triple Feature With a cinematic oeuvre that features comedic zombies, explosion-happy British village constables and guitar-wielding teen heroes, the English director distinguished himself with a unique comedic vision. He'll share inspirations and methods of his films ? "Shaun of the Dean, "Hot Fuzz" and "Scott Pilgrim Vs. the World. " New Beverly Cinema, 7165 Beverly Blvd., L.A. Fri.-Sat., 7:30 p.m., $7. (323) 938-4038. Graphation Film Festival In recent years, comic books and graphic novels have proved fertile ground for Hollywood movie adaptations.

Don't let "Paul's" R-rating fool you. In the latest comedy from those funny Brits of "Hot Fuzz" and "Shaun of the Dead," the wise guys have gone more off-center than off-color with this whimsical and surprisingly gentle road trip adventure about two friends, an obsession and an alien named Paul. After the sharp bite and harsh light of most American-style guy-based funny films today, "Paul" comes as such sweet relief. If not for a lot of F-bombs and other naughty words, this would be a family film, a sort of fractured "E.T.," with Seth Rogen never more likeable than as the bald-headed extraterrestrial who just wants to phone home (he should consider this kind of disappearing act, a la Mike Myers and Shrek, more often)

Don't let "Paul's" R-rating fool you. In the latest comedy from those funny Brits of "Hot Fuzz" and "Shaun of the Dead," the wise guys have gone more off-center than off-color with this whimsical and surprisingly gentle road trip adventure about two friends, an obsession and an alien named Paul. After the sharp bite and harsh light of most American-style guy-based funny films today, "Paul" comes as such sweet relief. If not for a lot of F-bombs and other naughty words, this would be a family film, a sort of fractured "E.T.," with Seth Rogen never more likeable than as the bald-headed extraterrestrial who just wants to phone home (he should consider this kind of disappearing act, a la Mike Myers and Shrek, more often)

In "Attack the Block," the feature writing and directing debut of British comedian Joe Cornish, an alien invasion occurs in a London public housing complex, and only a group of teenagers seems to notice. Pulsing with a rowdy energy, the film works as both a sci-fi horror flick and a teen adventure film. The greatest turn that Cornish pulls off is opening the movie with his protagonists mugging a woman (Jodie Whittaker) and still somehow making them seem, as the story unfolds, worth getting to know (while never excusing their nascent thuggery)

When British actor Simon Pegg wielded a cricket bat to fight zombies in the 2004 cult hit comedy "Shaun of the Dead" -- co-written with director Edgar Wright -- a new variant of genre-tweaking English humor was born. Or at least it was born larger, following Pegg and Wright's beloved 1999 Britcom "Spaced," about pop culture-delusional slackers.

Three years ago, directors Zach Snyder and Edgar Wright caught the attention of critics and audiences with their well- received zombie films. Snyder directed the stylish remake of George Romero's "Dawn of the Dead," while Britisher Wright helmed the flesh-eating living-dead spoof "Shaun of the Dead." Serendipitously, their latest efforts -- "300" (Warner, $35) and "Hot Fuzz" (Universal, $30) -- make their DVD bows today.

In "Scott Pilgrim vs. the World," the inventive, free-floating ode to nerdville, the comic-book geek stays in the picture. Whether it's Scott's everyday loser life or his ninja-fighting, super-powered imaginary one, it's all played with a sort of Michael Cera-styled sweet, nebbishy sensibility that works well since the real Michael Cera actually got the role. Go figure. Actually, there was a lot of figuring to be done to convert Bryan Lee O'Malley's distinctive artistic, and loosely autobiographical, musings about a 22-year-old Toronto native whose life is framed by his total lack of ambition until he's in a fight to the death to woo the girl of his dreams.

The Early Show Christopher Andersen. (N) 7 a.m. KCBS Today Jack Black; Giada De Laurentiis; Chanticleer. (N) 7 a.m. KNBC Good Morning America (N) 7 a.m. KABC Rachael Ray Christina Hendricks. (N) 9 a.m. KCBS Live With Regis and Kelly Bette Midler; Disney on Ice's "Toy Story 3"; Katharine McPhee performs. (N) 9 a.m. KABC The View Jack Black and Jason Segel ("Gulliver's Travels"). (N) 10 a.m. KABC The Talk Kelly Osbourne. 1 p.m. KCBS The Oprah Winfrey Show Forty years after the film "Love Story," Ali MacGraw and Ryan O'Neal reunite.

MOVIES Edgar Wright Triple Feature With a cinematic oeuvre that features comedic zombies, explosion-happy British village constables and guitar-wielding teen heroes, the English director distinguished himself with a unique comedic vision. He'll share inspirations and methods of his films ? "Shaun of the Dean, "Hot Fuzz" and "Scott Pilgrim Vs. the World. " New Beverly Cinema, 7165 Beverly Blvd., L.A. Fri.-Sat., 7:30 p.m., $7. (323) 938-4038. Graphation Film Festival In recent years, comic books and graphic novels have proved fertile ground for Hollywood movie adaptations.

In "Scott Pilgrim vs. the World," the inventive, free-floating ode to nerdville, the comic-book geek stays in the picture. Whether it's Scott's everyday loser life or his ninja-fighting, super-powered imaginary one, it's all played with a sort of Michael Cera-styled sweet, nebbishy sensibility that works well since the real Michael Cera actually got the role. Go figure. Actually, there was a lot of figuring to be done to convert Bryan Lee O'Malley's distinctive artistic, and loosely autobiographical, musings about a 22-year-old Toronto native whose life is framed by his total lack of ambition until he's in a fight to the death to woo the girl of his dreams.

A big week's coming up for Edgar Wright, a Londoner now living part-time in the Hollywood Hills. On Tuesday, the director and co-writer of "Shaun of the Dead" and "Hot Fuzz" welcomes the DVD release of "Spaced," the British TV show starring frequent collaborator Simon Pegg. Wright and Pegg will sign copies of the disc Wednesday from 12:30 to 2:30 p.m. at Laser Blazer in L.A., and at 7, there will be a free screening at the ArcLight on Sunset.

Three years ago, directors Zach Snyder and Edgar Wright caught the attention of critics and audiences with their well- received zombie films. Snyder directed the stylish remake of George Romero's "Dawn of the Dead," while Britisher Wright helmed the flesh-eating living-dead spoof "Shaun of the Dead." Serendipitously, their latest efforts -- "300" (Warner, $35) and "Hot Fuzz" (Universal, $30) -- make their DVD bows today.

When British actor Simon Pegg wielded a cricket bat to fight zombies in the 2004 cult hit comedy "Shaun of the Dead" -- co-written with director Edgar Wright -- a new variant of genre-tweaking English humor was born. Or at least it was born larger, following Pegg and Wright's beloved 1999 Britcom "Spaced," about pop culture-delusional slackers.

"Shaun of the Dead," which pitches itself as a British "rom zom com" -- romantic zombie comedy -- is even cuter than its premise. How the cuteness can transcend frequent impalings and ripped-out entrails may not be immediately obvious, but trust that it does. Variously co-written, directed and enacted by a trio of best friends, "Shaun" has all the markings of a labor of love. It's a grisly but sweet ode to friendship, love and the George Romero zombie trilogy.

There's no avoiding the talk about: Miley Cyrus' new album, "Breakout." Because as good as "See You Again" was -- and it was good -- her angry new tune "7 Things" is better. And ever since that Vanity Fair debacle and those bra-baring photos surfaced, we've decided she's pretty darn cool. You might as well give in. (Tuesday) "Shaun of the Dead" fans, please talk about: "Spaced: The Complete Series" DVD.