Zombieland Movie Review

The opening of Zombieland sets the tone nicely for the events to follow: a world of chaos, destruction, and... surprisingly... rules. We are introduced to this world in a desolated gas-stop, with our trusty narrator, "Columbus" (played by a delightfully dry and neurotic Jesse Eisenberg). This world, it seems, has certain rules of survival, and these rules play an integral role in the plot.

We see these rules play out in a variety of different scenarios. The attempts at integrating a non-fiction element into a fictional world has become surprisingly common in popular culture, probably due in part to the rise of cinema verite as a style (Cloverfield, Quarantine, Diary of the Dead, et alia). It is no small thanks to Max Brooks for paving the way here-- his Zombie Survival Guide and World War Z books certainly helped plow the marketing fields. How does Zombieland fare on its own, after having impeccable timing helped it take advantage of the current marketing trends?

Well, to be frankly honest, the movie fairs well. Surprisingly well, given that the film attempts to blend a lot of different tones into one package. The film is part buddy film-- at least once Columbus meets the delightfully disturbed Tallahassee (played by a vibrant and energetic Woody Harrelson); it is part romantic comedy, as the romance develops between Columbus and Wichita. The character of Wichita is played by an uneven Emma Stone. It is not that Miss Stone does not fit the role. It is perhaps that she fits it too superficially. The character of Wichita is a deceptive woman who plays on her appearance more than her actuality. The actress feels too much like she is playing this literally, and it makes for a performance that just feels a little too... well... performed.

However, Miss Stone is not without her strong moments. The chemistry between her and the protagonist (Jesse Eisenberg) is very powerful, and believable to say the least. Eisenberg does a wonderful job reacting to her deception with a believable and innocent naiveté. When she is reacting against this, Miss Stone's demeanor breaks in a believable fashion-- she stops "performing" and actually delivers at these times, and it is to the director's credit that this actually nullifies the previous complaint about her acting. She shines where it counts, and it comes just as you are starting to doubt whether she really can deliver.

And then... there is the last act. Where the previous acts were all about the performance and a little about the show, the last act really grabs you and does not let go. I read somewhere (the source escapes me) that the filmmakers wanted to make a roller coaster ride feel, with all the adrenaline and excitement, and the final act really delivers.

Of course, one might fault the film for being a bit too slow-paced. But considering how interesting the characters are, it is hard to fault the film for letting us spend so much time with them before the grand finale.

Is it a perfect film? No. Until the character arch changes, Emma Stone's performance, while suitably "bad-ass", feels flat sometimes, at least until the more chemical moments between her and the protagonist. Also, I felt that the film's major philosophy of "never take yourself seriously" shot itself in the foot, for the film seems to avoid having any substance. There is a very touching moment with the character Tallahassee, which the writer and director felt they could absolutely not linger on, which was a shame because Harrelson's performance was just... perfect for the moment. But then, the moment is cut short by an admittedly funny one-liner. Still, it would be interesting to see what would have happened if the filmmakers allowed more of a harmony between the sillier moments and the more emotional or thought-provoking.

All in all, though, the film is an exciting adventure, with believable romance, interesting and energetic (if not neurotic) characters, an unrelenting sense of humor.

Highly recommended, even with its flaws in mind.