Freakin' brilliant...why did I miss this one in theatres?

Rating: 9/10 (31 May 2013)

I watch a lot of movies and I will literally go see just about anything in the theatres. For whatever reason I missed this one and didn't feel too disappointed about it. If there is one genre right now that is being flogged for all its worth, its the zombie genre. However, they still manage to come up with some original or at least very entertaining premises around the zombie genre (Walking Dead, Flight of the Living Dead...no I'm not kidding...) and now this. I heard good word of mouth on it but I still wasn't sure it would be any good in my opinion. Well open mouth and insert foot. Warm Bodies is wickedly fun, darkly humorous, brilliant executed, well acted and original. Its a Romeo and Juliette post-apocalyptic romance that makes Twilight look even worse than it is because this was actually fun and easy to watch and brilliant. Is it an Academy Award winner? Of course not and it doesn't try to be. This heavy handed 9 I am giving this is based on pure entertainment. I pop it in ready to watch but perhaps write or surf the web at the same time and then the laptop goes away and suddenly I am enthralled in the story and laughing and just having a good time. I don't often mention soundtracks but the soundtrack for Warm Bodies was awesome!! Classic 80's and 90's Rock that just fit the mood for the film so well.
Nicholas Hoult is "R", a zombie who feels a little different than the rest of his kind. Throughout the film he falls in love and finds himself changing back into a human being. Hoult is perfect in the role. He has this awkward intensity and the perfect comedic timing for his character. He is charismatic and fun. Teresa Palmer will certainly be one to watch because I think this film will make her a bit of an "it" girl. She is beautiful, and feisty and the perfect ying to Hoult's yang. She is a strong female lead and they don't use her sexuality to make a point. They have fantastic chemistry together. I was more than surprised to see John Malkovich amongst the cast. He was terrific and intense as Palmer's father who is emotionally damaged from the zombie apocalypse. He gives an outstanding performance. The supporting cast are really terrific. Analeigh Tipton is sarcastic and funny as the best friend. I wish she had more screen time but she was really great. Rob Corddry was also great in a small role as Hoult's best friend who is also a zombie.
Warm Bodies is listed on IMDb as Comedy/Horror/Romance and that is exactly what it is. It embodies all three of those things. It has moments of being dark and creepy and the post apocalyptic setting is done extremely well but then there are some truly great laughs in the film and an epic romance that respectfully channels Romeo and Juliette in an extremely off beat sort of way. The "Boneys" in the film are done so well without a hint of being campy. They are genuinely and downright creepy!! I often say how a director and screenwriter being the same person is usually a recipe for disaster but there are always exceptions and Jonathan Levine is a huge exception because he is crafted something brilliant here. This is really his first big full length screenplay and it is just about near perfection. From the scene with Julie teaching R to drive, to the balcony scene to the epic and brilliantly shot battle scenes at the end...this is the type of movie that was everything Twilight wasn't...but should be just as popular. I still probably wouldn't suggest it to young teenagers and younger but ultimately there wasn't anything overtly adult about the movie. Bad language was minimal if any at all, violence was certainly there but not blood splattering, and there is no sex...simply romance. Seriously...do yourself a favour because this is one of the best date movies I have ever seen. Zombies and romance makes this the ultimate guy/girl movie!! A near perfect score. 9.5/10