Zombieland (15)
Directed by: Ruben Fleischer
Starring: Jesse Eisenberg, Woody Harrelson, Emma Stone
If there’s one view we can assert from the past decade its Hollywood’s meteoric rise in spoofing its own movies. Starting with the 2000 smash Scary movie we have been inundated with mock-productions varying from the credible to the downright catastrophic, however if Zombieland is anything to go by the quality is certainly on the up.
As Zombie films go this one hardly differentiates on the basic conventions. Set in a world where 99% of the population have turned into ravenous flesh-eaters we’re introduced to four survivors each with their own motives on how to proceed to stay alive, and where to head for safety. The wry, nerdy humor of narrator Columbus (Jesse Eisenberg) combines to hilarious odd-couple effect with gun-toting, death defying cowboy Tallahassee (Woody Harrelson), who in turn are scammed by hustling sisters Wichita (Superbad’s Emma Stone) and Little Rock (Abigail Breslin). The quartet combine to embark on a perilous road trip to an L.A. amusement park in search of a Zombie free zone.
Its greatness largely stems from its ingenuity, displayed relentlessly with Colombus (Eisenberg) revealing the ultimate ‘rules of survival’, featuring the 32 fundamental laws such as “cardio” – simply outrunning the overweight undead, or “blend in” – I mean when’s the last time you saw zombie try to eat another Zombie?
Without unleashing too much the highlight undoubtedly falls with the cameo appearance of a comic legend, playing himself, who has sealed himself away in his Hollywood mansion. This moment as well as the razor sharp one-liners, ultra inventive Zombie slaughtering and wholly likable chief characters whose life you become altogether involved in works to complete gut-busting effect.
Its fast-paced, tight and excessively gory nature all assimilate for a thrilling ride, making it one of the most downright entertaining comedy’s of 2009 with the laughs coming thick and fast, this is one of the genre’s finest outings.
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