ZOMBIELAND MOVIE REVIEW - The Movie Messenger

Zombieland is a comedy horror film starring Woody Harrelson and Jessie Eisenberg. 

The movie opens with narration from a college student (Eisenberg) who explains how he survives a zombie apocalypse.  What could have been a cliché way to explain the setting of a zombie apocalypse turns out to be something totally refreshing – he doesn’t explain the zombie apocalypse at all, but just how he continues to survive, a little list of rules for himself that keeps him going strong – and how these rules are introduced are not only clever, but utterly hilarious.  I loved how something so simple was done so creatively.

The college student, who we will know as Columbus, meets up with Tallahassee (Harrelson) (they call each other this because these are their future destinations).  Now Tallahassee is a no-nonsense tough guy who is after one thing in left in the world – the last known Twinkies in existence.  I’m not kidding.  It’s funnier on screen than it is on paper, and it is so because of the continuous gags and zombie movie clichés that are sprinkled throughout the movie.

Later, the Columbus and Tallahassee meet up with two girls who con them, Wichita (Emma Stone) and Little Rock (Abigail Breslin), who put Columbus and Tallahassee to the test.  Wichita has trust issues, so she is only out for her and her sister, so it becomes tough for Columbus to befriend to the two, especially after he develops a crush on Wichita. 

Zombieland is continuously hilarious.  I haven’t laughed as much in the movies this year since The Hangover.  The dialogue is witty and stays true to each character, the sight gags are great, the wonderful, bloody zombie rampage is crowd pleasing, and wow, there’s actually character development.  That’s right, we get to know these people, and we’re right there along for the ride with them. 

Woody Harrelson is at the top of his game in this one, sometimes I think he’s one of the most under utilized actors in Hollywood.  He can be hilarious in one scene, make you feel sorry for him in another, have you listen to him in the next, and laugh at him again the whole way through. 

I also love how the movie isn’t really about the zombies, but how the four of these characters survive and live in a post apoctolyptic world.  Not only that, the movie makes a juxatoposition between our world today and this Zombieland.  This is really great writing here, especially when the rules that Columbus has for himself are continuously reminded, almost pointing out the rules that we as people today have for ourselves to survive and thrive. 

There are also horror elements, but they are done with no means to scare, but mostly to surprise.  How these four characters deal with the zombies is what makes the movie refreshing – as well as comedic.  Don’t get me wrong, there is blood and gore, but hey, it is a zombie movie after all.

Zombieland is the most fun I had at the movies this year. See it with a large audience or a group of friends and Don’t miss it.