| ‘ZOMBIELAND’ - review |
| Written by Sian Rafferty |
| Sunday, 20 June 2010 08:45 |
 Okay, let’s say that zombies have invaded. There’s nothing you can do about it; no saving the world this time. We lost, deal with it. So now what? Quite frankly, I wouldn’t have any idea where to start. Hide under my desk, or in a strengthened doorway? Umm, that’s an earthquake. Head for the nearest area of high ground? Oh that’s tsunamis. Thank goodness then for Jesse Eisenberg and his rules to surviving the zombie apocalypse. Unfortunately, as I am about the most unfit person I know, I would quickly be caught and munched on eaten à la his first rule: Cardio. ‘ZOMBIELAND’ is a post apocalyptic look at the world after the final plague hits. And it’s funny. Oh yes, it’s funny. Social recluse Columbus (Jesse Eisenberg) is constantly on the run from becoming a human sandwich. To stay one step ahead, he develops a whole set of rules to live by. Cardio, seatbelts, the double tap; his rules are the only reason Columbus is still running. And every protagonist needs his antithesis – the yin to his yang. Enter: Tallahassee (Woody Harrelson) the gun-toting, cowboy hat wearing, booze slinging bad-boy, whose biggest claim to fame is the time he took down a zombie with a pair of garden shears. Respect.  Somewhere along the way they bump into a Girl Who Sort of Looks Like Jackie from ‘That Seventies Show’ (but isn’t) and her little sister – the kid from ‘Little Miss Sunshine’ (Abigail Breslin) - who POWer into the picture, using their girly ways to get their way. Wichita, the older sis, is played by up and coming ‘It Girl’ Emma Stone from her breakout role in ‘Superbad'. Starring in these, let’s admit, mostly boy-films must be pretty intimidating, but the fiery (as of the moment) red-head definitely manages to hold her own. Together, this famous four troop across America in the hopes of finding the promise land of zombie freedom, but managing to fit in some all important family time along the way.  The best thing about this film would have to be the comedy. Yes these people are on the run from becoming zombie-fied, but it’s almost not really about that. This is a film about four people learning to love and trust. With zombies. And it’s the little things that make the movie. Like the continual reflections on Columbus' rules and his sole goal in life: to stroke a girl’s hair behind her ear... and like Little Rock’s references to Hannah Montana, and Tallahassee’s soft gooey heart. The best part? The epic cameo sequence. All I will say is that there is no-one better than the Big B.M.!  ‘Zombieland’ would have to be one of my top movies of 2009. Everything about it is well-thought of and crafted to perfection. Zombies have never been my favourite monster - probably the least favourable to meet in a back alley. Yet with Jesse Eisenberg and Tallahassee at my side with a banjo and a Swiss Army knife... I think I could handle it fine.  THING YOU MOST NEED TO KNOW: If nothing else, for the sake of your own survival you need to watch this movie. ‘Cuz you never know when a zombie apocalypse may hit... HEARTOMETER: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 + 1/2 [ out of 10 ] YOU WILL LIKE, IF YOU LIKE: the idea of ’Shaun Of The Dead’ crossed with the romance of ‘Adventureland'. WATCH: ‘The Squid And The Whale’ and ‘The Education Of Charlie Banks’ for more Eisenberg action.  |
