From the opening credits (a montage of zombies attacking people set to
Metallica's For Whom The Bell Tolls) I was hooked on Zombieland. It's a
wild ride that will make you laugh and cheer and want to watch it again
as soon as it ends. Simply put - it is pure awesomeness!
The
zombie apocalypse has happened and only a few people are still alive
and kicking. Columbus (Jesse Eisenberg), who narrates the story, is
alive because he follows a set of rules. Rule #1 is "Cardio" (because
you must be able to outrun the living dead). Rule #2 is "Double Tap"
(meaning put two bullets in a zombie to make sure they're actually dead
before kicking them or turning your back on them). Some of the other
rules include no bathrooms, always wear a seat belt and travel light.
These appear on screen video game-style.
Columbus is a born
loner and a self-aware geek. Before the zombie virus he would spend his
nights with pizza, Mountain Dew Red and World of Warcraft. Trying to
get home (to Columbus, Ohio - hence his name) to see if his parents
have met their zombie end, he runs into fellow survivor Tallahassee
(Woody Harrelson). Tallahassee has survived because he is the
definition of bad ass (he drives an Escalade with a plow on the front
and has a back seat full of weapons). After some hesitation the two
partner up and hit the road.
During their travels they stop at a
grocery store so Tallahassee can try to find a Twinkie. Twinkies, you
see, are what keep him going and he is obsessed with them. So when
questioned if he is really willing to risk his own life for one, the
answer is yes. While in the store killing zombies and looking for
Twinkies they stumble across sisters Wichita (Emma Stone) and Little
Rock (Abigail Breslin) hiding in the basement. Without giving anything
away the foursome eventually stick together, only now they're taking a
detour to Hollywood.
If it wasn't for the strong cast,
Zombieland would only be a mediocre film. Sure, the script is funny but
it's the cast that carries it. Eisenberg, who I still feel is a poor
man's Michael Cera, works a lot better in this than his non-zombie film
Adventureland. He's witty and charming
and the audience can relate to him. Stone and Breslin (who is only 14)
also do a great job proving you can have a strong female presence in a
zombie movie without dumbing them down or stripping them down. It's
Harrelson who steals the show though. If he wasn't a cult icon yet he
will be now. His portrayal of Tallahassee is a blend of his previous
characters Mickey Knox (from Natural Born Killers) and Woody (from
Cheers). He's not the brightest bulb but he gets the kill and cracks
jokes while doing it.
Director Ruben Fleischer along with
writers Rhett Reese and Paul Wernick have put together a great zombie
spoof that works just as well as Shaun of the Dead did. Everything from
the make-up effects to the cinematography to the killer soundtrack
(which happens to feature Canada's own Metric) fits perfectly. And
although it's not a horror film there's lots of blood and guts to
please the crowd.
Near the end there is a cameo I can't speak
about or it will ruin
the surprise. Let's just say it's the cherry on top and pushes
Zombieland into a category of its own. If you're looking for a good
time at the theatre this weekend this is the film to see (all the way
til after the credits too).
**** out of 5 stars
Rated R
Cast: Woody Harrelson, Jesse Eisenberg, Emma Stone, Abigail Breslin
Directed by: Ruben Fleischer
Official Site IMDb
brian.mckechnie@citynews.rogers.com
ALSO OPENING THIS WEEK: The Invention of Lying, Capitalism: A Love Story, Coco Avant Chanel, Whip It, Toy Story 1 & 2 3D Double Feature
Top image: Woody Harrelson and Jesse Eisenberg in Zombieland. Courtesy Sony Pictures.