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Released 7th October 2009
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Can you imagine a world overrun by zombies - certain politicians and reality-TV stars aside? Ruben Fleischer’s Zombieland is the US version of Shaun Of The Dead, a zombie road movie full of carnage, that’s just as cry-out-loud funny with off-the-wall trivialities uttered in inappropriate moments by its hapless, but polar-opposite leads, the wimpy Columbus (Jesse Eisenberg, Adventureland) and badass zombie slayer Tallahassee (Woody Harrelson). The thrills come as soon as the ‘interactive’ titles roll, with hilarious slow-mo action punctuated by cartoon-styled splatters of various fluids from humans, zombies and utensils alike, accompanied by big rock tunes and the paranoid mutterings of Columbus telling you ‘the rules’ of how to stay alive. The script by Paul Wernick and Rhett Reese is fresh and well written, reminiscent of Tarantino or the Coen Brothers, allowing the talented Eisenberg to perform as he performs best; as the bumbling, socially-awkward fool who always gets the sympathy vote for being the normal, guy-next-door type caught up in a bit of movie action - once more in a fairground.
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But it is Harrelson, obviously loving his part as the trigger-happy, Twinkie-obsessed hard nut Tallahassee, who is brilliant and the most charismatic. Tallahassee roars onto the screen like a modern-day, laid-back cowboy to the rescue in a black motorised beast with guns at the ready, totally unimpressed by his puny travelling companion, Columbus. But each man finds they share common characteristics when the chips are down, turning them into the most unlikely best buddies at the end - like all half-decent road movies on a journey to self-discovery should.
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Those never introduced to a Twinkie before cannot begin to fully understand Tallahassee’s need to kill for one that arises after that first bite of creamy sponge. Granted, without sounding like an advert for these sweet bars of heaven, they are that addictive, and Wernick and Reese have cleverly picked up on this and some other of life’s little guilty pleasures with our ‘love’ of Ghostbusters. Tapping into the current 80s nostalgia, they highlight two things we would kill to protect if the world as we know it ceased to exist; Twinkies and Bill Murray - and it’s priceless comedy stuff.
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Once again, Murray is content with poking fun at himself and his lack of worthy screen roles in recent years (here’s holding on for Ghostbusters III in 2012) by pretending to be a zombie in his gaudy palatial home in Beverley Hills. The apparent irony is, as the fallen star, still great in the minds of all, he wanders, forgotten, around the trappings of fame within his four walls, like someone’s neglected grandparent ready to be pulled out of retirement. But he portrays himself exactly how we imagine him to be, if we had tea around his house; eccentric, witty and accommodating. There was literally a gasp when Columbus prematurely ends our comedy hero’s life, followed by tears of laughter with his hysterical Garfield 2 confession that is probably one of the best movie moments of this year.
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Emma Stone and Abigail Breslin as no-nonsense sisters Wichita and Little Rock add the feisty female factor. Breslin still relies on the cutesy charm that made her an instant household favourite from Little Miss Sunshine days, but kicks all into touch that she’s growing up with a her kick-ass role, here. Stone provides the hormonal teen totty, the bad girl of every boy’s dream - with skinny jeans and Goth eye make-up, but does deliver some of her own very funny lines. When the girls join the boys, it’s a matter of trust that makes the dynamics and the allegiances interesting to watch throughout. Sexy Amber Heard also makes a brief appearance as Columbus’s neighbour who comes to a sticky end.
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Even if zombies aren’t your usual bag - but getting back at clowns are - Zombieland should not be overlooked as it has pure, dark-comedy venom, wickedly coursing through its veins and is first-rate, action-pumped fun. It is definitely more a road movie with an exceptionally witty cast and a few hundred zombies to boot that presents a thoroughly entertaining, albeit bloodthirsty cinema choice, standing out from recent, more serious vampire and demonic offerings.
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By Lisa Keddie
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Synopsis
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Columbus (Eisenberg) is a big wuss? But when you’re afraid of being eaten by zombies, fear can keep you alive. Tallahassee (Harrelson) is an AK-totin’, zombie-slayin’ badass whose single determination is to get the last Twinkie on earth. As they join forces with Wichita (Stone) and Little Rock (Breslin), who have also found unique ways to survive the zombie mayhem, they will have to determine which is worse: relying on each other or succumbing to the zombies.
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Film Facts
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Official site: http://www.sonypictures.co.uk/movies/zombieland/
UK Release Date: 7th October 2009
Director: Ruben Fleischer
Writers: Rhett Reese, Paul Wernick
Cast: Jesse Eisenberg (’Columbus’), Woody Harrelson (’Tallahassee’), Emma Stone (’Wichita’), Abigail Breslin (’Little Rock’), Amber Heard (’406′), Bill Murray (as himself), Derek Graf (’Clown Zombie’)
Distributor: Sony Pictures UK
Certificate: 15
Run-time: 88 mins
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Video on Real.com
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Trailer:
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FOUR CLIPS:
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