Movie Review: “Zombieland”

Seen on: October 2, 2009

The players: Director: Ruben Fleischer, Writers: Rhett Reese, Paul Wernick, Cast: Woody Harrelson, Jesse Eisenberg, Emma Stone, Abigail Breslin, Amber Heard

Facts of interest: Fleischer said he found his inspiration for this in "Shaun of the Dead."

The plot: A group of humans travel across the country trying to survive the zombie mayhem surrounding them.

Our thoughts: Do yourself a favor and buy a ticket to “Zombieland.” I promise you won’t regret it, because Ruben Fleischer’s fast-paced comedy boasts big laughs, highly entertaining zombie action, and a bunch of superb performances guaranteeing 80 minutes of simple, yet compelling big-screen fun. Yeah to that!

Here’s what’s happening: the world has been taken over by zombies, and there are not many normal human beings around. Columbus (Jesse Eisenberg) is one of the last, and as he tells us in the beginning of the film, he survived only by sticking to a set of rules that come in quite handy when facing zombies.

On the way to his home state of Ohio, Columbus runs into Tallahassee (Woody Harrelson), a badass fighter who’s also an expert when it comes to eliminating flesh-eating monsters. Determined to stay among the living and fight the zombie mayhem surrounding them, the two decide to hit the road together…

And so the fun of “Zombieland” begins. Fleischer’s film beautifully succeeds at combining subtle humor with some awesome zombie killin’, and while the movie certainly isn’t overloaded with big action sequences, it manages to entertain cinemagoers via a simple, yet interesting enough character development.  

Each of the human folks you get to meet here on the big screen has an interesting personality, and screenwriters Rhett Reese and Paul Wernick did a fine job balancing humorous conversational moments with bloody sequences full of zombie slashing.

While Eisenberg’s character keeps us entertained with his funny narration and his adherence to all his rules of survival, Harrelson’s Tallahassee just throws around funny lines every scene he’s in. Joining the part are the charming Emma Stone and talented Abigail Breslin, who play two tough sisters trusting nobody but each other.

What I loved most about “Zombieland” is that it never takes any of its positive aspects too far. Most of the jokes are amusing but never too silly or embarrassing, the action sequences are fun to watch but never overly stupid or ridiculous, and even the film’s quieter moments are quite enjoyable to experience.

We’ve now seen countless zombie flicks, but Fleischer’s film proves this specific genre still has some fun and new energy to spare. “Zombieland” is certainly not a totally innovative piece, but it still sends out a refreshing vibe. It’s paced well, and the great cast also adds a lot of flavor to the whole thing.

Freaky quote: "Time to nut up or shut up!" – Woody Harrelson

The final word: That’s all I’m going to say about “Zombieland” at this point. I hope these words convince you to give it a shot. Loaded with fun, action, and probably one of the most original cameos I’ve seen in a long time, this party is worth a trip to the theater this weekend. Time to nut up or shut up. Go see this!

Article by Franck Tabouring