Proof that the Sprinting Dead can be hilarious

Rating: 8/10 (25 July 2010)

Zombieland is another entry into the long tradition of the great zombie comedy. Wellokay, there's Shaun of the Dead, Fido and now there's this one. So, I guess it's not that long of a tradition. But this movie does reaffirm that when a zombie comedy is done right, it's clever and gory fun.
This film focuses on four people who survived the zombie apocalypse and only know each other by the names of their hometowns. Columbus (Jesse Eisenberg) is a dweeby, phobic 20something whose social dysfunction is the main thing that's kept him alive. Tallahassee (Woody Harelson) is an ass-kicking redneck with a powerful yen for a Twinkie and an even more powerful need to brutally massacre every zombie in sight. Wichita and Little Rock (Emma Stone and Abigail Breslin) are con-artist sisters who only trust each other and aren't looking for any more company. After a rocky start, the four decide to head to an amusement park in California becausewell, what else are you going to do when the Earth is overrun by the walking dead. Along the way, they learn that there's nothing like everyone else being gone to teach you how much you need other people.
This is a damned funny movie. From the neuroses of Columbus, who keeps a list of survival rules that emphasize things like aerobic workouts, basic motorist safety and never, ever being a hero; t o the balls-to-the-wall attitude of Tallahassee, who discovers that he was born to kill zombies and relishes it; to the sisters, who are both smarter than either Columbus or Tallahassee but show mercy to these dumb shmucks; every character contributes something to the comedy stew.
This is also a damned bloody movie. These zombies belch blood and tear flesh with abandon. They aren't the walking dead of George Romero. These are the sprinting dead of 28 Days later and the Dawn of the Dead remake and this film shows them killing and getting killed in about as graphic a fashion as you'll ever see.
All four of the main actors do a really good job, with Jesse Eisenberg and Woody Harelson striking comedy gold as the Mr. Peabody and Sherman of zombie-killing, if Sherman took too many steroids and Mr. Peabody had irritable bowel syndrome. Abigail Breslin is adorable and Emma Stone is able to overcome a very unfortunate set of bangs to be every nerd's fantasy girl.
Look, I realize a comedy where only a handful of people have survived an outbreak of flesh eating ghouls isn't everyone's cup of tea. Appreciating zombie humor does require a particular sort of taste. But if you liked Shaun of the Dead or Fido, you should definitely give Zombieland a try.