Zombieland (2009)

Directed by Ruben Fleischer
Written by Rhett Reese and Paul Wernick

Rated R for horror violence/gore and language.

I feel like I was the last one to see this film, which is ironic considering my love of and devotion to the zombie genre (a devotion that even extended to writing and directing my own zombie film, "Spark of Life"). I am not even the first of my friends to review "Zombieland" for their blog. That honor goes to long-time friend and bowling buddy Jared Wadman (check out Jared's "Zombieland" review). But "better late than never" has always been a good motto, so without further, further ado, my review of the biggest zomedy since "Shaun of the Dead", "Zombieland":

I should start by saying that "Zombieland" is much more a comedy than a horror film. There is plenty of gore, but none of the hopeless claustrophobia of "Night of the Living Dead" or other classic zombie films. The overall tone is hopeful and the laughs rarely stop.

"Zombieland" stars Jesse Eisenberg as "Columbus", a nerdy shut-in who survives the zombie outbreak because he avoided people even before they became zombies. He is a bit obsessive compulsive, and lives his life in what he calls "Zombieland" by a strict set of rules. Among the rules: Cardio (because fat/slow people get eaten first), Double-Tap (shooting downed zombies in the head to prevent pesky reanimation), and "Don't be a Hero" (because it'll get you killed). Armed with a shotgun and hindered by irritable bowel syndrome, Columbus is trying to make his way back to Ohio from his East Coast college dorm. I was not a fan of "The Squid and the Whale", which also starred Eisenberg as an awkward teen, but his comic performance in "Zombieland" redeems him in my book.

Along the way, he meets "Tallahassee" (Woody Harrelson), a rough-and-tumble redneck with a fierce vendetta against the undead scourge. Harrelson's "Tallahassee" is the James Bond of zombie hunters. He kills zombies with style, poise, and prejudice as frequently as possible. Woody Harrelson has officially achieved the rank of "Major Bad-Ass" for his portrayal of Tallahassee in "Zombieland". In spite of initially thinking that Columbus is "...kind of a bitch," Tallahassee lets him tag along as they both trek westward through Zombieland. The two find two girls, "Wichita" and "Little Rock", who rob them of their car and guns.

 

In spite of the robbery and their instinctual distrust of one another, the boys join the girls and continue westward towards the promise of a zombie-free zone at a theme park called Pacific Playland. Being four of the only people still living in Zombieland, the survivors form a loose family, brought together by their shared will to survive.

One of the funniest segments of the film is when the gang visits the mansion of a Hollywood star "...who makes Tom Cruise look like a B-lister." (-Tallahassee). That's right, it's Bill Murray time! The survivors enjoy Murray's posh mansion for a while before realizing that Bill Murray's not dead yet. Well... not quite... exactly... Murray stars as himself and is at his funniest in years. But eventually the time comes to move on, and the gang continues towards Pacific Playland.

The film's climax is a zombie-palooza. Without giving too much away, there's an epic zombie battle that will warm the hearts of any long-time zombie fan. There's even a zombie clown! "Zombieland" ends satisfyingly in it's own right, but also leaves open the possibility of a sequel (which I believe is in the works for 2011).

I'd give "Zombieland" a 10/10. It was funny, gross, and a great satire of zombie disaster films. Parts of it will be funnier to fans of the zombie genre, but most of the humor is broad enough to be enjoyed by everyone. This is a great intro to the genre for people who don't like scary movies because it plays with all of the zombie cliches without being overly dark or horrific. Buy it, don't rent.













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