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October 7, 2009

'Zombieland' rises up over any other zombie comedy

By STEVE OUELLETTE, Movie Review

Usually zombie movies are made to be scary. Often they're unintentionally funny. Occasionally, however, the living dead are played purely — and intentionally — for laughs.

And in all the storied history of zombie comedy, "Zombieland" just may be the best.

Not to take anything away from the other obvious contender, "Shaun of the Dead," but that film's typically droll and sly British sense of humor can't quite match the oozing all-American belly laughs of "Zombieland."

The movie is set in the United States after mad cow disease gone wild has turned virtually the entire population into flesh-eating monsters. Still alive and kicking, however, are the odd couple pairing of Columbus (Jesse Eisenberg) and Tallahassee (Woody Harrelson).

Columbus is a phobic and nerdy coward who has survived with strict adherence to his own lengthy list of survival rules. Eisenberg ("Squid and the Whale") plays his own particular brand of nebishy character, previously seen only on the independent movie circuit, and it's nice to see him finally get a box office success. Ironically, his most recent film was "Adventureland," a dramedy set in a rundown amusement park not too unlike the one where "Zombieland" has its climactic scene.

Eisenberg meshes perfectly with his opposite, Harrelson, who is playing a part that seems to have been written just for him. Harrelson's Tallahassee is a fearless, fun-loving redneck who actually relishes the opportunity to kill zombies in different and creative ways.

The two quickly settle into an uncomfortable buddy road movie — with rotting corpses — before a pair of still-living sisters are thrown into the mix: 12-year-old Little Rock ("Little Miss Sunshine's" Abigail Breslin) and self-reliant 20-something Wichita (Emma Stone of "Superbad"). The two female characters aren't quite as interesting, but they keep the plot moving at a pace faster than the average shambling zombie.

"Zombieland" has some undeniably gory moments, probably enough to satisfy most zombie lovers, but the dark humor is the real draw, and it is present throughout the film. One awesome and surprising mid-movie cameo is worth the price of admission all by itself.

The movie is never really scary, but for anyone with even a reasonably strong stomach, it's gooey, crunchy entertainment from start to finish.

Rental Recommendation: "Dueling Banjos" never gets old. The song made its film debut in the outstanding and creepy "Deliverance." Grade: A+.

E-mail Steve Ouellette at: ouellette1918@gmail.com

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