Just Too Much Fun To Dislike

Rating: 7/10 (5 March 2017)

I have never been a fan of zombie fare. I usually don't like over-the-top hijinks movies. I prefer my plots (and characters) complex and love it when they make me think. Thus, one would assume that "Zombieland" is not for me. Yet, I enjoyed the experience because it is just so much doggone fun!
For a basic plot summary, "Zombieland" sees young Columbus (Jesse Eisenburg) surviving in a post-apocalyptic U.S.A filled with zombies. He manages to stay alive by following a strict set of rules like "always check the back seat" and "never be the hero", for example. Columbus then finds an unlikely partner in Tallahassee (Woody Harrelson), who is a zombie-killing legend. When sisters Wichita (Emma Stone) and Little Rock (Abigail Breslin) enter the picture, the foursome must try to cope in a world destroyed by the flesh-eating monsters.
What makes this movie work so well is that director Ruben Fleischer knows how silly this genre truly is and thus this whole film is about poking fun at itself. It is kind of ironic that those people (like me) who dislike the zombie genre will probably like "Zombieland" better than others because of that tongue-in-cheek nature. Zombie material either has to be played perfectly straight (like "The Walking Dead"), or this completely opposite approach, which lets us laugh at how ridiculous the whole scenario truly is.
The acting from that main foursome only helps to suck in viewers, as each of those four turn in a wonderful performance. Harrelson almost steals the show, Eisenburg is the perfect "loner/nerd", and Stone/Breslin make their characters come to life as well. A longer-than-usual "cameo" from Bill Murray is also a highlight.
Thus, even though I usually despise zombie-related fare, this one held my interest all the way through. I could have even watched more material, as it was so funny and fresh.