Zombieland (B+)

[dalmatianjaws]

Ironically, there are two movie sub-genres that never seem to die: Slasher Films and Zombie Films. We're currently in zombie-craze, probably do to all the pent up geek-anger over the Twilight franchise, and the indie film circuits are swarming with the Undead (See Dead Snow, Yesterday, or Survival of the Dead for examples of this).

So it was inevitable that another mainstream Hollywood zombie film was on the way,  stripping away all the nuance and social commentary that, oddly, accompanies most of these films about not-so-subtle, flesh-eating, hyphen-inducing corpses.


Timmy's backyard birthday party goes horribly wrong.

Presenting Zombieland, a surprisingly charming, light-hearted comedy that lives up to all your qualms about major studio releases but gives you such a fun ride that you won't care. Like that brash title suggests, this is a joy ride of a movie, and not just because all of the third act takes place in an amusement park. There is no deep meaning, no societal allegory, and, possibly to the chagrin of die-hard zombie fans, no nihilistic ending. This is pure joy ... with intestine-munching monsters.

Converted into movie-form by writers Rhett Reese and Paul Wernick, who originally developed the story for CBS television, the story is thin at best. A geek and a bad boy road-trip through a zombie wasteland, trying to survive. They join forces with two girls and make their way to the west coast, along the way they learn to be friends. But what makes the film work is the clever dialog and great chemistry between the four actors.


Jesse Eisenberg, Emma Stone, Abigail Breslin, and Woody Harrelson.

Jesse Eisenberg plays Columbus (so named for his city of origin, like all the main characters), his usual awkward geek-role. While this type-casting is tried and true, Jesse is infinitely re-watchable in this archetype, proving his physical-comedy chops as he commits grievous acts of violence with a neurotic, Woody Allen-esque detachment.

The obvious Odd Coupling with Woody Harrelson's Tallahasee works very well. The two had such a fun time with the stunts and dialog that it practically jumps off the screen. Luckily, the tone of the movie permits a lot of smile, because it's obvious most of the ones on screen were uncontainable.

Also, Eisenberg's chemistry with Emma Stone (playing Wichita) is spot on. Unlike most of these films where the love story is an afterthought, this is the main driving force of the movie. Their romantic banter is fun and quieter moments also work well, carrying an air of sincerity to an otherwise silly film.

This mix of PG-rated humor with R-rated violence and language is an utter blast. It gives the audience the cathartic release of gasping and screaming at the jump-scares and gross-outs, but leaves them feeling light inside. Walking out of Zombieland felt like walking out of a Pixar movie, an accomplishment worth noting since the film features some of the grossest, ultra-slow-motion zombie kills in memory.


It's his fault for calling shotgun.

Take this an add a dash of brilliant second-act celebrity cameo (if you can, do not research this movie, because the cameo was a total, joyous, shock) and you have a delicious recipe. It's not exactly a seven course meal, but it's a perfect dessert.

[Sheridan Passell]

Oh dear Mahmoud went to a screening of this today. Which review to pick? .... I guess it'll be both.

[Mahmoud El-Azzeh]

I have a slightly different take on the film but all the same it was VERY awesome.

[AristotleP]

Sweet!

[ad4m22]

Zombieland Review

Horror-comedies are the hardest films to get right. You can either rely on the comedy to get you through the first two acts (Shaun of the Dead) or you can go too far down the horror route and just have the occasional gag (Severance). Well, take heed, because this is one film that manages to achieve that golden statue and have horror and comedy taking place in the same scene at the same time.

A few weeks have passed since the first zombie bit his first victim and now the entire world has turned in a nightmare hellscape – lucky for survivor Columbus (Jesse Eisenberg on top form). Columbus was a loner before the zombie outbreak, and now he’s just as happy as always – only now he’s got a fantastic set of survival rules to which he’s planning on keeping. Heading out to find his parents, Columbus meets up with Tallahassee (Woody Harrelson with the dial set to eleven), a man with an almost insane hatred of zombies and a love of carnage. On the long, deserted road towards home, the two encounter devious and likeable female con artists Wichita and Little Rock (Emma Stone and Abigail Breslin), both of whom are on their own journey to Pacific Playground in Los Angeles. Along the way, they murder zombies, hang out with the superb Bill Murray and attempt to enjoy the little things that remain open to them in the new world.

It’s a rare film indeed that can bring out deep, hearty belly laughs as you watch the world being destroyed. Normally something only achieved by Roland Emmerich or Michael Bay, the names of director Ruben Fleischer and writers Paul Wernick and Rhett Reese can now be added to this prestigious list. Within the opening ten minutes the number of inventive ways to show an apocalypse has hit an all-time high, while the huge array of loud, hard laughs on offer may see you struggling to breathe amid all the genuinely horrific violence.

The film’s real strength is the completely believable and totally loveable characters. The smart decision to focus on only four survivors leaves the writers with an incredible amount of depth to play with – hard man Tallahassee hides a disarming secret while the possibly virginal Columbus manages the impossible task of never once being an irritating Warcraft-playing nerd. Wichita and Little Rock even come across as likeable, despite every opportunity for the characters to be annoying – almost a miracle considering that Little Rock is a young girl in a horror movie. Massive props, too, to Bill Murray, whose short time on screen easily counts towards being one of the best roles of the year, if not the greatest cameo in horror history.

In short, this manages the impossible. Horror fans, zombie fans, comedy fans and even romance fans will all find something to like here. Absolutely, hands down, the funniest, most gruesome and jaw-dropping film of the year so far. Nut up or shut up – this must be seen.

5 stars