‘Warm Bodies’ is a zombified Romeo and Juliet tale
Warm Bodies, written and directed by Jonathan Levine, is a surprisingly heartfelt rom-com about zombies in a post-apocalyptic future. Nicholas Hoult stars as R, a walking dead who yearns for the affection of Julie (Teresa Palmer), a living girl. At first, their relationship is born of blood and brains, but once the fury calms down, R tries his best to convince Julie of his genuine, peaceful nature.
John Malkovich heads the resistance movement; he’s a militaristic man hellbent on saving the remaining souls in the city. He sends his men out on missions to hunt down the zombies, and this poses a direct conflict to R and his dead buddies (including Rob Corddry playing a character called M). Close your eyes and imagine the Capulets and Montagues. Warm Bodies, based on Isaac Marion’s novel, is lovingly and loosely adapted from William Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet.
Hoult is likable as our main hero. We first learn about his character through an often-hilarious voiceover. You see, in this zombie world, the walking dead have a hard time talking. They think and make decisions, but they’re unable to express their emotions verbally, except for a few grumbles. This becomes quite the challenge for R, who wants to whisper sweet-nothings into Julie’s ear (without biting it off, of course). As he falls deeper in love, R begins to change over from dead to alive. His heart begins to beat. His cheeks begin to flush. His murmuring begins to grow in volume.
The movie trips up when more zombies and soldiers are thrown into the plot. The central romance is taken hostage by the flick’s obligation to include some action sequences. The shooting sprees all staged with skill, but it feels like a fight for another movie. In Romeo and Juliet, the Capulets and Montagues certainly draw blood, but audiences usually come away remembering the unrequited love at the story’s center.
In a crowded marketplace where so many movies compete for the attention of teenagers, Warm Bodies is that beautiful exception. It’s a smart movie with a cool premise, and the story never lowers itself to a pandering level.
There’s much heart in this carcass.
By John Soltes / Publisher / John@HollywoodSoapbox.com
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Warm Bodies
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2013
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Written and directed by Jonathan Levine
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Based on the book by Isaac Marion
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Starring Nicholas Hoult, Teresa Palmer and John Malkovich
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Running time: 98 minutes
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Rated PG-13 for zombie violence and some language
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Rating:
