Zombieland

Robert Fleischer, 2009

The first thing I need to say is that all of the comparisons to Shaun of the Dead are overselling it quite a bit. The second thing I need to say is that it's still pretty good.

Basically, this is Woody Harrelson's movie. He's not technically the lead, and I suppose the main dramatic arc doesn't belong to him, but he dominates every scene he appears in. He also embodies the spirit of the movie more than anyone else (that spirit is badass silliness bolstered by misunderstood pathos). The rest of the cast is does what they need to as well, and the extended cameo by REDACTED provides one of the best laughs in the movie.

The tone can be a little inconsistent at times, but the director adds a lot of fun non-diagetic material that kind of papers over the holes. The most obvious example of this is the recurring device of onscreen zombie survival rules that pop up whenever appropriate. Unfortunately, although 32 rules are mentioned, only five or so are ever identified, and are then used repeatedly. Granted, the context usually changes enough that it works as a new, different joke - but it would have been nice to expand the material a bit.

This kind of sums up my feelings overall. Zombieland settles into a comfortable groove that's very enjoyable, but doesn't really stretch itself - which is where it falls short of Shaun of the Dead. It's a little disappointing, because I was expecting it to push the envelope a little more. It was probably just an unfair expectation, though, and Zombieland still does what it does very well. Besides, how could I possibly stay mad at a movie that features a zombie attack at an amusement park with a scene set inside a haunted house? It's like they did it just for me.

7.5/10