Zombieland Review
Written by: deadhorse13
Storming out of the gate to the welcomed strains of Metallica's "For Whom The Bell Tolls" comes Ruben Fleischer's Zombieland, as we're given a brief and rollicking introduction to the world that awaits. We first meet Columbus (Jesse Eisenberg), your typical geek shut-in whose idea of an enjoyable weekend is a hot session of World of Warcraft and a cold bottle of Code Red Mountain Dew. Columbus is a man who follows his own set of rules, a laundry list as it were, which includes: beware of bathrooms, cardio, double tap and seatbelts to name just a few. He just wants to survive. Fate in the form of a zombie apocalypse unites him with Tallahassee (Woody Harrelson). Tallahassee's your typical redneck, alcohol fueled, NASCAR lovin' shit-kicker who doesn't follow rules. And he just wants a Twinkie.
This unlikely pair take a raucous trek from Texas to California (Pacific Playland, to be exact), but not before getting conned by two very precocious teen girls. In due course our furious four eventually earn each others trust and bond over such delights as destroying property, stopping by a well known actor's home in the Hollywood Hills, and serving up six-packs of whup-ass on every deadite that sprints into their way. Zombieland is admittedly very lean in story, but thankfully the characters are likable and accessible enough to give you a little something to chew on. No subtle "Romero-esque" commentary going on here to muck up the works - just loads of zombies used as cannon fodder as our crew try and stay alive.
Fleischer makes the most of his stock car to keep it in the revenant race and makes the trip an enjoyable one. The cinematography and stylized action sequences are really what make the film so fun. However, there was a certain predictable "cuteness" to Zombieland that I wouldn't have been able to get past had it not been for all the undead butchery. To it's credit the performances are never too over the top to have you shaking your head, and a particular cameo is truly a stroke of genius. The zombies are quick, suitably grotesque and menacing; nothing we haven't seen before, but quite well done. To be sure, all the gorehounds should find themselves wagging their tails at the carnage.
Zombieland never takes itself too seriously or pretends to be something it isn't. It's a wild, visually inventive ride with a lot of action and quite a few laughs. Much like Tallahassee's beloved confectionery symbol of a better by-gone era, the Twinkie, it's highly processed and sorbent with a sugary filling - but it still serves as a tasty treat. Don't expect anything but fun and Zombieland shouldn't disappoint. Enjoy the little things.