Zombieland: Movie Review

Zombieland: Movie Review

Rating: 8/10
Cast: Woody Harrelson, Jesse Eisenberg, Emma Stone, Abigail Breslin, Amber Heard
Director: Ruben Fleischer
From the opening slow mo titles which see zombies taking people out in very drawn out fashion to the final showdown at the end, Zombieland is one hell of a lot of fun.
Basically, thanks to a diseased burger, the entire US of A has been overrun with zombies, leaving just a few survivors determined to avoid being bitten.
The hero is Columbus (Jesse Eisenberg), a nerdy student who encounters Woody Harrelson's red neck Tallahassee one day as he tries to find out if his family's survived the apocalypse.
(That's one of the great things about Zombieland - none of the characters have real names; they've simply given their locations as their monkers)
So teaming up, the duo head across America - however, on the way they encounter Wichita (Emma Stone) and Little Rock (Abigail Breslin) who manage to con them out of their car, guns and belongings. It appears the end of the world has still brought out the worst in some people&as well as that whole zombie flesh eating issue.
Tallahassee is determined to wreak revenge - but as the road trip progresses, both parties grow closer together - will their nuclear family be ruined by revenge and zombies?
Zombieland is not your average undead film flick - for one thing, it's a terrifically fun ride, chock full of unexpected madness and laugh out loud moments.
Eisenbeg and Harrelson's nerdy Columbus and redneck Tallahassee double act sizzles with a sparkling energy - Tallahassee's not at all impressed with his new buddy, as it's throwing him off his quest to find the last ever Twinkie on earth.
Columbus on the other hand has a whole set of rules he has which help him survive the end of the world - and as he espouses these at the start of the film, they seem to have helped him get through. But having spent so much time as a loner, he soon realizes those ways are going to have to change.
Director Fleischer gives the film some visual flair and a vibrancy which sees it never outstay its 90 minute duration.
But there's one main reason to see Zombieland - and unfortunately, I'm determined not to spoil it for you - because the pure unadulterated pleasure I felt as I witnessed what was the best plot point I've seen for years left me beaming for ages after the end.
And trust me, it'd be a shame to spoil that for you - it's sheer genius and very brilliant.



Zombieland is a reminder of how fun and disposable great cinema should be - it's trashy, it's pulpy and yet underneath all the undead flesh, there's a beating heart which will give you the widest grin you've had for a long time, long after you've left.