Welcome to Zombieland

You gotta love zombies. I mean, they’re dead, mindless, only want to eat to satisfy unnatural hunger, want to create more zombies, yet also want to eat their fellow zombies. What makes Zombieland stand out from the dozens of zombie movies made in the past is that this is a funny, dark, and violent done with some amusing tricks by director Ruben Fleischer.

The film starts after a zombie apocalypse has turned most of America into a virtual “zombieland”. Narration by “Columbus” (Jesse Eisenberg), he adopted the name to signify where he’s heading in hopes of finding his parents in Ohio. Columbus has been following certain rules to avoid being killed or turned into a zombie including doing cardio, double tapping to ensure the zombies are dead, being wary of bathrooms, limbering up, etc. Along the way, Columbus bumps into a man called Tallahassee (Woody Harrelson) who has a gift for killing zombies. They, in turn, are conned by sisters Wichita (Emma Stone) and Little Rock (Abigail Breslin) into giving up their truck and their weapons. Both pairs reach an uneasy truce as the girls are willing to help the guys reach their destination while they themselves plan to visit the Pacific Playground amusement park in California.

Zombieland immediately immerses you in what has become a reality for its inhabitants. Through pop-ups and shorts sketches, Director Schneider shows how to survive a zombie attack. It’s similar to the old “Pop-Up Video” concept on VH1, but with far more dire consequences. Eisenberg sometimes sounds like fellow geek Michael Cera and his neurotic hero does serve to annoy Harrelson’s ultra-cool renegade character. Their chemistry was essential in keeping me involved in the movie, as was their interaction with the con artist sisters. I always find it weird watching Abigail Breslin nowadays, especially since I used to see her in movies like Signs, Raising Helen, and The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement when she was just six. After showing off serious talent in Little Miss Sunshine, I think it’s safe to say she’s got this acting thing down pat.

The zombies in Zombieland aren’t the classic slow, plodding kind from Night of the Living Dead, but that’s not such a bad thing. I love that they run and attack, forcing the protagonists to think fast. The makeup effects are decent enough, but surprisingly, what carries this movie is actually the plot. The idiosyncrasies of Columbus, Tallahassee’s quest for revenge and the last Twinkie, as well as the trusts issues of the sisters actually make them more endearing and sympathetic. Add in a great cameo by a famous actor in the middle of the film and you have a funny, innovative, yet engaging zombie film.