In the ebb and flow of Hollywood trends, there are a few film archetypes that inevitably return and see a resurgence in popularity every few years: pirates, vampires and, of course, the undead. Strict horror movies rarely appeal to a wide audience, hence the adaptation of the hormone-ridden "Twilight" (2008) and now "Zombieland," a zombie comedy with touches of romance. Eschewing genre conventions and employing a very modern and hip brand of humor, "Zombieland," despite a lack of any serious weight, is a thoroughly entertaining romp through post-apocalyptic America.
"Zombieland" tells the tale of a group of people attempting to survive and cope with the downfall of society by way of the undead. Columbus (Jesse Eisenberg), the Snarrator and hero, is a neurotic twenty-something whose solitary life and set of zombie survival rules help him stay alive. On the road, he encounters Tallahassee (Woody Harrelson), a renegade man in a cowboy hat who takes time to enjoy the little things, such as twinkies and stylishly killing zombies. Named after their respective destinations, they travel across the country, forming an unlikely bond and picking up a few more survivors along the way.
The film is set a month or so after a virus has already transformed the vast majority of America into the living dead. This setup is a rather clever break from tradition, not only establishing a shared character history of loss and isolation, but also expanding the world's possibilities: the characters roam an abandoned country, doing as they please and indulging in fantasies like exploring the home of a Hollywood celebrity (resulting in an absolutely priceless cameo). It also frees up more screen time to devote to the action, which is plentiful and satisfying.
In fact, the film spares no expense in delivering a cornucopia of creative deaths — the entire opening credit sequence is a slow-motion montage of highly entertaining zombie executions, and the amusement park sequence is an action-lover's dream. Indeed, the characters brag about their "zombie kills of the week" in order to pass the time, an opportunity for the filmmakers to flash back and cram even more gore into the movie.
Inhabiting this traditionally straight-laced genre and infusing it with comedy, Zombieland will inevitably draw comparisons to "Shaun of the Dead" (2004). In terms of humor and pacing though, it manages to find a unique voice — rather than silliness and slapstick, it relies on sarcasm and snappy dialogue, as exemplified by Columbus' favorite thing about a nation of the undead: "no more Facebook status updates."
Furthermore, while there are indeed some truly tense moments, the aim of the movie is not to be an homage to classic zombie films; instead, it simply seeks to take viewers on a ride.
Although Eisenberg's character seems to hail from the Michael Cera school of socially awkward man-boys, he plays Columbus with a bit more depth and confidence, creating an endearing and relatable hero. The real comedic anchor of the film, however, is Woody Harrelson, who appears to be having the time of his life in the role of Tallahassee, enthusiastically offing the undead and spitting one-liners in a way that will surely reaffirm the actor's cult status.
Abigail Breslin and Emma Stone turn in decent enough performances as Little Rock and Wichita, two sisters who vow to stick together no matter what. Unfortunately, the film's brisk pace (it clocks in at 80 minutes) devotes no time to their history and therefore robs their characters of emotional depth, even if they make fine foils for the men.
Ultimately, "Zombieland" delivers on the promise of its trailer, giving audiences big laughs and frequent thrills. It even manages to carve a niche in the zombie genre, and what the movie may lack in emotional punch, it more than compensates for with entertainment value.
