Zombieland brings the goods

By Christi Vasquez     10/8/09 7:00pm

Judging by their aggressive mainstream and viral ad campaigns,the makers of Zombieland weresetting fairly high expectations for fans of the genre, as well as for casual moviegoers. And to both, this film delivers in every way it possibly could - and more. Zombieland chronicles the journey of Columbus (Adventureland's Jesse Eisenberg) from college in Austin, Texas, to his hometown of Columbus, Ohio.But his journey fails to live up to typical college road trip standards: Due to a strange disease that swept the nation, the United States has become a land teeming with millions of undead zombies hankering for some very alive brains. Things begin to unravel onceColumbus meets up with Tallahassee, played by the utterly brilliant Woody Harrelson (Seven Pounds).

When both of the men get conned by sistersWichita (The House Bunny's Emma Stone) and Little Rock (Abigail Breslin, My Sister's Keeper), the four of them form a strange, deep friendshipamidst the gory horror of their daily lives. Once Wichita informs Columbus that his hometown in ashes, his plans change and he heads with the girls to a California theme park that, according to rumor, is free of zombies. Tallahassee tags along for the ride, as he seemingly has nowhere else to be: He spends his time searching for a Twinkie and trying to attain the honor of "Zombie Kill of the Week."

What is particularly great about Zombieland is that it doesn't waste time describing the origins of the infection that turns the population into undead masses. The film merely jumps right into the insanely hilarious yet terrifyingly grotesque, results. This unlikely pairing is especially prominent in oneshot of a zombie stripper with still-oscillating tasselsrunning down a strip club patron, or of several little zombie girls in princess dresses trying to take a chunk out of a soccer mom. To supplement these scenes are "Columbus' Rules for Staying Alive in Zombieland," which include Rule No. 1: Cardio (gotta stay in shape to outrun the zombies); Rule No. 2: Double Tap(make sure the zombie is really dead); Rule No. 3: Beware of bathrooms (where humans are most vulnerable); and Rule No. 4: Wear seatbelts; among many others. These guidelines, which are highlighted in the beginng of the film, are solely worth the ticket price in laughs - and,oddly enough, they provide practical applications,since no one ever thinks of getting eaten by a zombie while they are using the toilet.

---

---

Possibly the most unsettling aspect of the film is its depiction of the empty and desolate modern United States, much as 28 Days Later, with its undead London landscape, must have made Londoners feel. Both films juxtapose ideas of formerly-bustling cities with undead wastelands, a disturbingly jarring contrast. Scenes of an deserted Los Angeles were eerie and unsettling: Scattered zombie tourists explored the area, eating people and slouching along the Hollywood Walk of Fame, still decked out in cameras and fanny packs.

Solely inferring from publicity efforts, one could have thrown Zombieland in the same bin asDance Flick and Snakes on a Plane, but the actual movie is way beyond what those films were. Zombieland is not simply a satirical view of the zombie genre; it has genuine heart, a fact the viewer is reminded of in unexpected moments, such as when Columbus, who can't ride a motorcycle, crashes into some hedges and Tallahassee lovingly picks him out, or when he gets to second base with Wichita amidst a zombie assault. In addition, the actors are extremely well-cast and give great performances, especially Harrelson and Eisenberg, who make the movie as believable as a zombie flick can get. A cameo from the very talented Bill Murray (Ghostbusters),who dressesup as a zombie so that he can still socializein an undead Hollywood,is also a delightful treat.

In fact, the only fault in Zombieland is the liberal amount of gore in the film, particularly the close, disgusting shots of dark, coagulated bodily fluids pouring out of zombies' mouths. Then again, it's a zombie movie, and potential viewers should not miss out on this future cult classic if possible. Still, if you get queasy at the sight of blood, or zombie clown heads being squashed by a jackhammer, this may not be the movie for you.

But this isZombieland, so either nut up or shut up.

---