‘Zombieland’ makes zombies funny

Taking a page from Shaun of the Dead (read review here), Zombieland is a carnal laughfest that stresses the jokes more than the gore. The results are quite funny thanks to clever performances from Woody Harrelson and Jesse Eisenberg.

Director Ruben Fleischer keeps the action fast-paced, working off a bang-up script from Rhett Reese and Paul Wernick. We come to know of the zombie apocalypse through Columbus (Eisenberg), so-called because he hails from Columbus, Ohio. He’s the typical college geek, interested in computer games and unlucky in the girl department. Actually, the character is not too dissimilar from Eisenberg’s Oscar-nominated turn in The Social Network. The one big difference is that in Zombieland he uses a little shotgun justice to keep the walking dead at bay.

Joining Columbus on a cross-country trek are Tallahassee (Harrelson) and the deceptive sisters known as Wichita (Emma Stone) and Little Rock (Abigail Breslin). As you can tell, no one uses their real name in Zombieland, kind of like the characters in Last Tango in Paris. They understand that there is a good chance some or all of them will die, so why grow intimate?

Helping the unlikely group of survivors is a mental guidebook that Columbus keeps memorized in his head. The set of rules has kept him alive until now, even though his friends and probably his family are all dead (or undead).

The script is the best thing about Zombieland. Rather than falling into horror-movie clichés, the film lets the inherent insanity of an apocalyptic setting take hold. For example, when the newfound family arrives in Hollywood, what do they do? Well, they grab a “Map of the Stars” and start enjoying themselves in the empty mansions of celebrities. The side trek at the estate of Bill Murray is especially hilarious.

When it comes to laughs, Zombieland scores. When it comes to special effects, it also scores; the gore is quite believable and nicely executed. When it comes to romance, it falters a bit. Even though the movie is as unconventional as they come, it still insists on spinning a sappy relationship between Columbus and Wichita. It’s never overdone and feels as organic as can be, but still, when there are zombies knocking on the door, who cares about puppy-dog love?

Harrelson probably earns the most laughs, with his southern drawl and roguish ways. Breslin is also quite funny as the youngest, yet perhaps the most deceiving, of the bunch.

Zombieland is a whirlwind adventure movie that chews the skin off every body part, especially the funnybone.

John Soltes / Publisher

• Zombieland

• 2009

• Directed by Ruben Fleischer

• Written by Rhett Reese and Paul Wernick

• Starring Woody Harrelson, Jesse Eisenberg, Emma Stone and Abigail Breslin

• Running time: 88 minutes

• Rated R for horror violence/gore and language

• Bubble score: 3 out of 4

• Click here to purchase Zombieland on DVD.