Zombieland is a mixture of blood-splatter action with great comedic performances. Of course, this is a zombie movie, but it goes far and beyond that genre and includes comedy, action, budding relationships, and a quest for Twinkies. This is an intelligent movie with mindless zombies, but it is not about the zombies as much as it is about the four main characters and their survival in America.
Jesse Eisenberg, Woody Harrelson, Emma Stone and Abigail Breslin play characters named from their home town. Some have left and never looked back, one wants to go back home, and the other lives on the road and has no home anymore. Columbus (Eisenberg) stayed in seclusion most of his young life, however, this has helped him survive the epidemic. He is the narrator and he tells us about these rules that have helped and saved him before. Cardio and Seatbelts just to name a few.
Columbus isn’t the hero type, but does use his mind. That is not true for Tallahassee (Harrelson). He enjoys killing zombies. He almost is their high school bully in a lot of ways. He uses guns, yard tools, and a banjo to do his killing. He practically will use anything. Oh and I can’t forget his love for Twinkies. His passion for these treats often leads him to risking his life and others. So when Columbus and Tallahassee meet up, it’s a very unusual friendship, but it becomes a nice balance.
Then they meet two more survivors named Little Rock (Breslin) and Witchita (Stone). They are sisters and con-women, and have an issue with trusting others. Tallahassee and Columbus figure this out rather quickly. But Columbus is more forgiving than Tallahassee. But all four become a unique team, and possibly the only survivors left. They all head to an amusement park in Southern California where it is zombie-free. Zombie-free? I don’t think so.
This movie is so much fun to watch. It’s not real long and provides a lot of entertainment. Zombieland is not about how the zombies came to be and what happened to civilization. Instead, it’s about the survivors and what they had to do to survive up to the point where the movie starts. Harrelson is just plain cool as Tallahassee. He enjoys the zombies because it gives him something to kill, and he kicks ass all through the movie. Eisenberg plays a Michael Cera-type in this movie and he shines. The chemistry between Harrelson and Eisenberg couldn’t be any better, especially in an environment full of zombies.
And Stone and Breslin add the female dynamic to this movie and they are talented young actresses. Stone showed that in Superbad, and she’s a tougher girl in this. And Breslin has shined in several films, and has been nominated for an Oscar. But this is a different role for her in a very different movie for her. Yet she still succeeds just like she has before. I love that the two female roles are strong and confident. They do more killing than being the victim.
This movie can easily be prepared to Shaun of the Dead, and it’s definitely a compliment. This genre has been torn a part and has failed. And only a few have come out being a success and Shaun of the Dead is one that comes to mind in the past few years. Now Zombieland can be added to that short list. I think I’ve already said how funny it is. There are some scares, but not a lot so do not get your hopes up. But do not let that discourage you. There is blood and gore because it is a zombie movie first and foremost. But it is full of entertaining scenes and cool action sequences. And there is even a little bit of drama in there as well. This movie has everything I tell you!
This is Ruben Fleischer‘s first feature film and what a great one to start off with. He mixes so many genres and puts together a great cast, including an awesome cameo. I cannot imagine anyone going in to this movie and leaving, and not being entertained and completely taken by surprise by how good Zombieland is.
Brandon Vick is a member of The Music City Film Critics’ Association, the resident film critic of the SoBros Network, and the star of The Vick’s Flicks Podcast. Follow him on Twitter @SirBrandonV and be sure to search #VicksFlicks for all of his latest movie reviews.
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