Zombieland movie review

Zombieland

Directed by: Ruben Fleischer

Cast: Jesse Eisenberg, Woody Harrelson, Emma Stone, Abigail Breslin, Bill Murray

Rating: 4/5

Review by Zulfi

            Zombieland is that post apocalyptic utopian fantasy which delights by the very concept and enthrals by infusing the extra dosage of humour. Zombies are those creatures which for me held no thrill until I watched ‘Shaun of the dead’, which by the way is a great classic and which undoubtedly should have contributed a sliver of inspiration for this movie.

Jesse Eisenberg’s character, who is called by his place, Columbus (as are the rest of the small cast) starts by doling out the rules for surviving in the barbaric and survival times of Zombieland. There is a brief narration of ‘zombie’ contagion affecting the population with only a handful of people remaining unaffected and how USA now is officially US of Zombieland. He follows his self propounded rules and gets by each day. He is a loner and now is trying to get back to his home. But he knows the chances of his parents having not turned into zombies are slim. But that doesn’t affect the light natured of this comedy. One day, he meets Tallahassee (Woody Harrelson), an exact opposite of his meek and laidback attitude, and hitchhikes with him. Tallahasse is all swear words and short tempers, but becomes mellow hearted when he talks about Twinkies. Meeting someone alive in Zombieland is rare thing and blessing from Gods. But you can’t be more cautious as somewhere down the sleeve, there may be the fresh bite incubating to become the malady. Both of them get conned by a couple of teenage sisters, Wichita and Little Rock, who take their ride and leave them wandering on their foot. But the beauty of Zombieland is that there are a lot of vehicles at your disposal. What irritates them is when they get conned by the same teenagers. One thing leads to another, and they become a group travelling on their way to Disneyland, which is Little Rock’s destination. Columbus is smitten by Wichita but he is that little spitf**k, Tallahassee mentions him as. He flounders cutely before her, which she slowly buys-in. But there is still that hint of doubt if the fellows are dependable from the sister-duo’s POV.

What Zombieland has is the right atmosphere. It is one of those movies, which makes us happy just by the setting. You can ride any vehicle starting from Porsche to Hummer as they are scattered all over the roads for you to take. There are foodtrucks toppled by the wayside for you to feast on. You can go to Los Angeles and stay at any celebrity’s house, as they are Zombies now. As much as there is peril because of the monsters, there is also that silver lining of exploring the whole world without any inhibitions. There is that feeling of parents leaving their children on their own at home in the characters, especially for Columbus, as he is a loner. And basks in being the loner. The audience are suffused with this excitement as the director, Ruben Fleischer, highlights it while he downplays the danger factor. While ‘Shaun of the dead’ was being stupid in the face of danger, this is looking at positive aspects of having a post apocalyptic universe. The picture of vast expanses of highways with toppled and stalled hundreds of cars gives the exact tone of ‘Zombieland’.

The highlight of the movie undoubtedly is when they go to actor Bill Murray’s house (as you can roam wherever you want even the palatial abodes of the Hollywood stars), where they find him trying work out his acting chops enacting as a Zombie to blend in with the murderous crowd if ever they attack him. He thinks it is a clever surviving strategy while it can also be the exact opposite of it. The dialogue here is hilarious especially when he replies Garfield regarding to a certain question. His own presence is a great addition to that meagre cast.

Jesse Eisenberg is plumb as that low talking hero diffident before one of the last girls left in the universe. But he is hilarious when he describes his rules and utters phrases of urban dictionary at improbable of times. Woody Harrelson has a great charm as that careless and bad father figure for the whole group. He acts like a small child, who is bent on having fun with decapitating and dismembering zombies rather than getting worked about the future. Emma Stone has a way with her guiles, which flounders more than one man. Abigail Breslin is overgrown of talent for her age as she has that apt comic timing and grace when she intimidates even Tallahassee.

            How the concept of Zombies became a wonderful formula for Hollywood is inexplicable. They can be the dullest form of horror, but here they form the fulcrum of comedy. They rip Achille’s tendons, muscle bulks, throats and whatnots. But the point that fatties become the first target as victims is well covered. Zombie mania can be often explored one but the way filmmakers exploit is mystically unbelievable. Colombus doesn’t mind exploring his lonely side in Zombieland limbering up whenever needed, while he is inside the screen. But we as audience have the security of the silver screen and can die of laughter inciting the ghosts of our humour.