Zombieland - Review (Film)

Well that was certainly some ride

Ruben Fleischer’s film packs a visceral punch from the brilliant slow motion opening right the way through until the credits roll.

Zombieland tells the story of Columbus (Jesse Eisenberg) a young man left as one of the few survivors of a viral outbreak that has turned the population into the walking dead.

He meets up with wildcard Tallahassee (Woody Harrelson – excellent as usual) and they decide to travel together, eventually meeting Wichita (Superbad’s Emma Stone) and Little Rock (Abigail Breslin from Little Miss Sunshine).

The film deals with some complex issues of trust and family in amongst all the mayhem and there is a poignant moment involving Tallahassee. Fleischer, wisely, doesn’t dwell on it for more than a few seconds and the emotional feeling doesn’t feel forced with the laughs returning shortly thereafter.

Zombieland is a brutal film that never flinches from showing the damage done to Zombies by various weapons/household objects. But at the same time everything is so slapstick you can’t help but laugh. The balance is great.

It has been a while (the back to back Rodriguez/Tarantino Grindhouse bill) since I saw a film get such a response from an audience – so many laughs, people were clapping, gasping, cheering almost. Here in the UK that is a fairly rare occurence.

There is also possibly one of the best cameos ever, which I won’t even hint at for fear of spoiling it for anyone.

This isn’t a film about finding a cure for the virus, or working out where it came from – for the first time in a long time in this kind of film these are real people just trying to survive.

No-one has had army training and they know they have to follow some self imposed rules to survive.

And it’s that ‘everyman’ factor which really hits home and gives you a connection to the characters.

Zombieland is big, brash, loud and colourful.

Film of the year so far – no doubt.

Rating: 9/10

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