2009 (USA)
Contains
mild spoilers.
What do you get if
you add a socially inept obsessive compulsive nerd, a fearless kick-ass zombie
killing cowboy and a pair of hustling sisters in a post apocalyptic zombie
wasteland? A stylish delightfully acted zombie road trip full of witty
dialogue, whoop-ass action and unlikely romance and friendship.
The film starts
with unlikely hero Columbus (Jesse Eisenberg ), each of our companions is named
after the destination they are intending to go to, alone narrating his
compulsive rules for surviving from good cardio to always buckle-up. Columbus
is in the process of travelling across from West coast to East coast America to
visit a family he'd become increasingly distant from because really he doesn't know what else to do.
It's on this journey
when he bumps into Tallahassee (Woody Harrelson) and they decide against each
others better judgement to share part of the ride. From the off these unlikely travelling
companions become the focus of the film. With a nod to all great comedy
companions there is an instant interplay as they attempt at first just to
tolerate then later to understand each other and in doing so realise at once
how little they really know of each other and also how they're both more
alike in being alone and lost than they'd care to admit.
The pair soon run
into sisters Wichita (Emma Stone) and 12 year old Little Rock (Abigail
Breslin). Surviving, as it happens before and after apocalypse day on their and
their marks' lack of wits, Wichita and Little Rock outwit the boys leaving them
behind with less stuff and on foot. Before long though Columbus and Tallahassee
get a break in fortune and find themselves caught up with the girls, pleasing Columbus who has taken a bit of a shine to Wichita. Another confrontation later and despite none of them exactly getting off on
the right foot the unlikely two end up an even more unlikely four, sharing a
road trip East.
Pre-apocalypse none
of the group would have had any time for one another, and the theme that
friendship and even family can be found
should people be willing to let their guard down even for a moment runs throughout the film. Columbus' rules
might be over the top and far more obsessive than the others but each has
formed their own guide for surviving whether they're conscious of it or not,
and deviations from it scares them as much as zombies.
Whilst adhering for the most part to quite traditional looking zombies, director Ruben Fleischer set
out to craft his own vision and not directly copy the Romero zombie formula per-se. First he based the outbreak on a
what-if Mad Cow's disease spread to humans. His zombies
are infected but still alive and I hear what you're saying, but as these infected
keep going if damaged anywhere other than the brain, therefore in death, I'm happy they comply with zombie code. Also whilst wanting to respect
traditional zombie canon he also wanted to infuse a bit more character and
colour, and movement and life in to some his creations. This results in nail
biting chase and action scenes especially in the films fairground finale, and
some comical scenes with clowns, birthday party girls and a quite frankly
surreal, hilarious and disturbing five minute cameo with Bill Murray as
himself.
I also feel there's
a small nod to the Capcom video game Dead Rising too, especially with the clown
which appears in the game as a sub-boss, some of Tallahassee 's outfits and the
sheer variety and fun in the ways in which the zombies are dispatched, which is
a hallmark of the series.
Fleischer has
produced a highly stylish and extremely creative zombie masterpiece that never takes itself too seriously. Despite
capturing the apocalyptic desolation from sets, to cleverly keeping things
tight and focused on the four survivors, he has also managed to produce a film
of heart warming friendship and hope. The casting and acting are perfect and
it's the subtle, clever interplay as each member of the band pokes and pushes
at the armour of the others that guards start to come down, and the human
qualities of trust and hope are allowed shine. Like many zombie films these
moments of humanity contrasted against death and despair on an unimaginable
scale take on extra power and meaning and Zombieland understands this
perfectly. I'd recommend you come along for the ride, 8/10.
Steven@WTD.
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