Zombieland: A Pure Comedy, and Quite a Good One

Rating: 6/10 (17 March 2010)

Now the most commercially successful zombie film of all time, Zombieland comes with an impressive reputation. Tackling a sub-genre more deeply mined than most, it attempts to do so in an original and interesting way.
Zombieland concerns an apocalyptic world in which the main character, Columbus (named, like the rest of the characters, after his hometown), tries to survive regular onslaughts of zombies. Meeting others along the way he carries on, determined not to be eaten, by abiding to certain rules.
The film is very very funny. Many laughs, consistent and effective, and well hitting. The rules are a great running motif, popping up in the background where necessary. Additionally, the editing is quite effective in creating laughs of its own, cutaways to other people and flashbacks adding much to the laugh factor. Performance-wise, the acting is great, particularly Eisenberg's, carrying the film well with his appropriate dorkiness. The now infamous cameo, which I won't name in case you're lucky enough not to know and want to retain your ignorance until viewing the film, steals the show with its brilliance: the perfect implementation of the film's style of humour. The plot is fine and nothing particularly original, but ultimately unimportant, the film more concerned with keeping us chuckling. All of the characters work quite well with each other, giving a good balance and range. The central love story, though not all that involving, is perfectly cute and amusing in itself. Harrelson's side storyline is one of the film's better elements, his search for Twinkies the perfect antithesis to his amusing yet surprisingly sad backstory.
Good characters, great interaction, funny dialogue, consistent quality. Delivering all you can possibly ask of it and hitting all the right spots, Zombieland is a pure comedy, and quite a good one.