Right next to Shaun of the Dead lies one of the greatest undead-fueled horror-comedies of all time: Zombieland. This film will always have a special place in my heart, even though it is not necessarily one of the greatest movies of all time. The complete absurdity and mayhem that stem from this film are incredible, as so many different scenes and quotes have turned this strange story into a modern-day classic. If at this point in time you haven't seen this film, I would definitely hop aboard the Twinkie train and treat yourself to this fantastic movie.
The most memorable and incredible parts of this film come mostly from my nostalgia, but it's a nostalgia that I often find shared between anyone else who has experienced this movie. The cast of characters in this film is a solid line-up, including Columbus, played by Jesse Eisenberg, Tallahassee, played by Woody Harrelson, Wichita, played by Emma Stone, and Little Rock, played by an up-and-coming Abigail Breslin. The chemistry between these four is amazing as much of their dialogue and interactions with each other have become iconic. Their individual quests and how they end up aligning with each other make for some wildly humorous scenes as well. Columbus simply wanted to be a part of a family, Wichita and Little Rock were looking for a safe place to survive, and Tallahassee just wanted his Twinkie. All of these goals for these characters were accomplished by the conclusion and in hilarious and heartwarming ways; and the fact that this film, at its core, is an apocalyptic road trip movie makes it that much better. One of the best parts about the writing in this film is the reversal of character that Tallahassee goes through as we see his backstory. Even though I personally was more emotional about him losing his dog over his son, it was a great character development choice.
All of the technical parts of this movie are done very well too, as the production quality is through-the-roof. The writing and plot throughout this movie are very simple but work very effectively. My only issue with the writing (and this goes for every road trip film) is that a lot of the events that occurred while the four traveled the country had no connection. Besides enjoying the little things and making a mess of middle-America, the scenes were a bit disorganized and did not have clear motivations. The directing in this movie is fairly decent, but the opening sequence is what stands out to me the most. It really nailed the "zombie apocalypse" theme but the slow-motion and practical effects really grounded the horror aspect of this movie in. I also love the editing in this film. Clocking in at only 1 hour and 28 minutes, the movie does not waste any time but it is perfect for the story. This is the first film I remember seeing where the motion graphics stood out to me a lot; even at ten years old, I remember how clever it was to see Columbus' rules utilized during his scenes. This is such a creative choice that not only works perfectly but also provides some framework and full-circle gags for the conclusion of the film.
Zombieland is a hilarious comedy with a great production value that will live on forever. I am so excited for the planned sequel next year and I truly hope they do these characters justice. This film will never cease to be one of my guiltiest pleasures as the nostalgia of the story brings me so much joy. Throw in a "Bill fuckin' Murray!" cameo and you've got an instant classic. Happy Halloween, y'all.
My Rating: ★★★★
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