Warm or Cold?

Rating: 8/10 (28 April 2015)

Warm Bodies (2013): Dir: Jonathan Levine / Cast: Nicholas Hoult, Teresa Palmer, Rob Corddry, Analeigh Tipton, John Malkovich: Unusual zombie film with the ultimate take on the act of love. It is set during the zombie apocalypse but something seems different with R, a zombie who seems able to think for himself. There are others like him but they live in fear of the skeletal zombies that devour anything with a heart beat. When a team is sent out to gather supplies and such they are attacked and mauled by zombies. Teresa Palmer plays the girlfriend of one of the victims but she is rescued by R who is fixated on her. He conceals her in a plane where they slowly develop a strange friendship. What is great here is unlike other zombie films we have a conclusion that goes an opposite direction that is truly uplifting. Director Jonathan Levine previously made 50 / 50 and here creates a zombie flick that is low on gore but high on comic appeal with a sense of warm good will. What works against it is the fact that R goes from barely a grunt to carrying on progressive conversation. At any rate Nicholas Hoult is terrific as a zombie struggling to communicate non zombie feelings to someone who is suppose to be afraid. Teresa Palmer as the daughter of a military head finds a connection with R. Rob Corddry steals scenes as R's best friend Marcus. Other roles are unfortunately as dead as the boney zombie villains. Even John Malkovich who can steal a scene better than anyone, is unable to elevate here as Palmer's military father. This is a refreshing look into love and communication being life's ultimate cure. Score: 8 ½ / 10