Entertaining but not great.

Rating: 6/10 (9 July 2013)

Having read the book and seen the movie I have to say that the movie did not live up to its potential. I'm going to be hard on the movie but it was entertaining if you can separate it completely from the book in your mind. Others here have mentioned the differences between the two so I won't bother with that. The thing is the movie could have been so much more.
First, the characters were flat. Brad Pitt's character was decent enough but generic, but aside from Brad Pitt the rest could have been cardboard cut outs. They were props there so that the main character has a reason to do things.
Second, the plot was literally stupidity driven. The plot was moved forward by a series of acts of stupidity on the part of the characters despite the fact that they should know better.
****Spoilers**** Stupid Act #1) In trying to escape in their Volvo behind a runaway garbage truck Brad Pitt stops looking at the road to deal with his panicked daughter and crashes. This sets up stupid act #2.
Stupid Act #2) They leave the daughter's inhaler behind despite the fact that she has what appears to be severe asthma. She's already panicking and they are going to be running, both situations where her asthma will be triggered. This sets up stupid act #3.
Stupid Act #3) After obtaining a RV they go to a grocery/pharmacy to obtain an inhaler for their asthmatic daughter (who BTW never has another attack). They leave the keys in the RV in front of a store that is being looted and seem surprised when it is gone. This sets up the "trapped in the building" scenario.
Another part related to #3 is the youngest daughter finds a hunting rifle in the RV. Brad takes the gun away but never checks to see if it is loaded, and never looks for more ammo. This is a guy who it is implied is a extremely competent survivor and is supposed to know weapons. He also shows no aptitude in carrying the rifle. See the next stupid act.
Stupid Act #4) Brad and a group of SEALs give a pistol to a guy who is completely unfamiliar with firearms or safety. This is their star virologist who is supposed to be finding the cure. Brad warns him to keep his finger off the trigger, he still ends up shooting himself.
Stupid Act #5) The wife calls her husband who she knows is going into danger and gets a lot of people killed. Brad's character a) should have instructed her not to call and b) doesn't set the thing on silent. Both he and wife know zombies are attracted to sound by that point.
There are several more but you get the picture...yet the film was still entertaining. It's more of a "see it at matinée prices" though.