VoML Post-film Report: Zombieland (2009)

TOP BILLED ACTORS
Jesse Eisenberg, Woody Harrelson, Emma Stone, Abigail Breslin, Amber Heard

DIRECTOR
Ruben Fleischer

3 POSITIVES

• The film begins with a sampling of the rules Jessie Eisenberg’s Columbus created in order to survive the zombie apocalypse. In fact, a few of the rules are put to the test the very first time we see him encounter zombies (and one is even added). The scene plays really well and whets the appetite for the main course.
• The actual zombies were great. I’m a big proponent of fast moving zombies over the antiquated, barely moving variety. It basically comes down to whether you subscribe to the theory that zombies are simply dead people reanimated or the more troubling theory that zombies are mindless, blood-crazed humans who were infected with a virus. I prefer the latter, because it is the more believable of the two and mindless humans run like normal humans without the distractions of everyday life. Picture Troy Polamalu running through the streets with no whistles, no penalties, and no barriers. The only issue I see is that there really couldn’t be any freak zombie athletes because the best ones would inevitably get fat. Zombie Usain Bolt probably wouldn’t know when to stop eating. He would be eating mostly skin and fat before the slower zombies joined in the feeding and his only training would be the time it took to catch the next person.
• Harrelson and Eisenberg’s chemistry was excellent. I’m a big fan of both actors on their own but they shined as a duo. One of my favorite scenes was the first time the two actors’ characters, Tallahassee (Harrelson) and Columbus, shared screen time. Columbus, clothed in khakis and button down shirt, and Tallahassee, dressed in jeans, leather jacket, and cowboy hat, engage in a tense standoff. They stood maybe 15 yards apart, shotguns pointed at one another. The former, held his with two visibly shaking hands and the latter stood stoically, holding his weapon with one extended arm. The scene deftly illustrates the chasm between their personalities. Columbus was alive thanks to his list and conservative risk assessment, and Tallahassee because of his willingness to act and fear of nothing.
  

3 NEGATIVES

• The virus appears to be transferred when humans are bitten by zombies which makes sense; viruses are often transferred through body fluids. Call it nit-picky but it just seemed that Tallahassee was a little cavalier about how he dispatched of zombies. Hitting things with blunt objects causes them to splatter. How many zombies can you kill with baseball bats before blood or saliva gets in your eyes, nose, or mouth?
• The cameo. I heard about the cameo prior to the movie but didn’t know who it was (don’t worry, I won’t tell), I just heard it was big. Yeah it’s pretty big, and pretty funny. My issue is that it felt a bit forced. It was great at first, but towards the end it was a bit excessive with the questions they asked and the references to the person’s films (there, gave you a small hint). It’s a small gripe for a plot point that proved to be important. Those scenes were a nice way to provide a safe environment to progress the relationships between the four main characters.
• I can't really explain it but I had issues with Abigail Breslin. I think the film may have been better with a different actor in there. She may be suffering from Haley Joel Osment syndrome. Either stick with romantic comedies or take a few years off and come back when you're out of your teens. Live a normal life for a while.
  

BEST PERFORMANCE
Jesse Eisenberg as Columbus

MOST UNDERRATED PERFORMANCE
The aforementioned cameo, despite the minor issues I had with how it was worked in, it really was a great performance and well done, for the most part.

HEY, IT'S THAT GUY...
Amber Heard from Pineapple Express as “406”. Emma Stone from Superbad as Wichita (very good).

REMINDED ME OF...
Shaun of the Dead, 28 Days Later

WOULD I PURCHASE IT?- Yes

WOULD I WATCH IT IF I CAME ACROSS IT ON CABLE?- Yes

I WILL GIVE IT A…

-PSon