Brain Parfait
by James Roland
Ironically, two movie sub-genres never seem to die: slasher films (everybody dies) and zombie films (everybody un-dies). We’re currently in zombie-craze — probably due to all the pent-up geek-anger over the Twilight franchise — and the indie film circuits are swarming with the undead (See Dead Snow, Yesterday, or Survival of the Dead).
So perhaps another mainstream Hollywood zombie film was inevitable, stripping away all the nuance and social commentary that, oddly, accompany most of these indie films about not-so-subtle, flesh-eating, hyphen-inducing corpses.
Hence, Sony Pictures gave us Zombieland, a surprisingly charming, lighthearted comedy that lived up to all my qualms about major studio releases but gave such a fun ride that I didn’t care. Like that brash title suggests, this is a carnival of a movie, and not just because the third act takes place in an amusement park. No deep meanings here, sir. No societal allegory and, possibly to the chagrin of die-hard zombie fans, no nihilistic ending. This is pure joy . . . with intestine-munching monsters.
Converted into movie form by writers Rhett Reese and Paul Wernick, who originally developed the story for CBS television, the story runs thin at best. A geek and a bad boy road trip through a zombie-covered wasteland, trying to survive. They join forces with two girls and make their way to the West Coast; along the way they learn to be friends. But clever dialogue and great chemistry among the four actors really make this film work.
Jesse Eisenberg plays Columbus (named for his city of origin, like all the main characters), another in a string of awkward geek roles. While this typecasting is tried-and-true, Eisenberg is infinitely rewatchable in this archetype. Here he proves his physical-comedy chops, committing grievous acts of violence with a neurotic, Woody Allen-esque detachment.
(from left)
Jesse Eisenberg,
Emma Stone,
Abigail Breslin,
Woody Harrelson
The obvious Odd Coupling with Woody Harrelson’s Tallahassee works very well. The two had such a fun time with the stunts and dialogue that it practically jumps off the screen. Luckily, the tone of the movie permits a lot of smile, because it’s obvious most of the ones onscreen were uncontainable.
Eisenberg’s chemistry with Emma Stone (playing Wichita) also hits the spot. Unlike most zombie films, where the love story is an afterthought, Zombieland makes romance its main driving force. The couple revels in romantic banter, and the quieter moments also work well, carrying an air of sincerity through an otherwise silly film.
This mix of PG-rated humor with R-rated violence and language was an utter blast, giving the audience the cathartic release of gasping and screaming at the jump-scares and gross-outs, but leaving us feeling light inside. Walking out of Zombieland felt like walking out of a Pixar movie, an accomplishment worth noting for a film featuring some of the grossest, ultra-slow-motion zombie kills in memory.
Add a dash of brilliant second-act celebrity cameo (if you can, do not research this movie, because the cameo was a total, joyous, shock) and you have a delicious recipe. It’s not exactly a seven-course meal, but Zombieland is perfect for dessert.
