As I may have mentioned before, I’m a huge zombie movie fan. Be the movies good or bad, I’ll take time to watch them all. Lately however, there has been a huge trend for the new additions to this genre to make there undead have the ability to run. I hate this. One of the main things that make zombies so creepy is there slowness, and how characters are eventually overwhelmed not by speed but my numbers. When the zombies run, they become like any other monster out there, and while the prospect of fast monsters has it’s own terror merits, it’s not something I like to see in a zombie flick.
I think ultimately it may come down to what a film calls it’s undead. The “28 Days Later,” creatures are simply infected, and change almost instantly, and while they share the undead aspect, they are never called zombies. This may be a petty nuance, but this simple edit makes them ok in my book. On a side note, I have the same problem with calling the sparkly daytime dwelling fairies that populate “Twilight,” vampires.
………… But I digress …………..
“Zombieland,” is a fun well written romp into a undead ravaged world. The characters are all well acted and funny, and the story flows nicely from gag to bit. It sags a little in the middle act but this was the only kink in an otherwise smooth comedy pipe. There is also a cameo in this film that’s hysterical and though it plays out to a telegraphed conclusion, is none the less satisfyingly funny. There are a few choices towards the end of the movie that ruins it a little for me but it’s by no means a deal breaker.
The zombies in this movie were ok. My major problem is that they’re even referred to as zombies but with that aside, they are serviceable. I also have to deduct points for the lack of degradation and overall rot that is shown. None of the undead seemed to show any wear and tear past to dripping blood and pasty skin. The first time I noticed this lazy zombie work was in the “Resident Evil” movie where they’re all just painted blue.
So how is the gore level? I would give it a B+. There are some great moments and one kill at the end that’s fantastic, but most of it is nothing special. There aren’t a whole lot of over the top, and extra graphic dismemberments that I love to see in movies like this, but what is there works for this film.
The music was also ok with the only real theme piece at the end, which in my opinion was the best part of a rather subdued rock filled score.
Overall, “Zombieland” is a great comedy with laughs a plenty. It fires on all cylinders most of the time, with a few instances here and there of slowdown and questionable behavior. This is fun film to see, and is only enhanced when your fellow movie goers are just as into it as you. So far as zombie comedies go, I think “Shaun of the Dead” is a pinnacle that has yet to be touched, but Zombieland’s reach isn’t that to far away.
If they weren’t called zombies then…
