It might be the final nail in the coffin for the Living Dead

Rating: 7/10 (15 October 2009)

Zombies aren't scary anymore. The Zombie film is little more than an excuse to show off special effects and cheap kills. A picture like 'Zombieland' was bound to happen and it is a funny send off to a genre which has run out of gas. If you're name isn't George A. Romero don't attempt a Zombie film again.
'Zombieland' like 'Scream' before it features self-aware characters who know they are in a zombie film. Our hero Columbus has made a list of rules in order to survive to populate Zombieland 2. These rules provide the greatest laughs of the film because chances are any going into Zombieland knows the formula by heart. These rules are really what people watching a poorly made zombie film would screen talk with in the background. Zombieland is made by people who have had fun with zombie movies and this is why I think it is so funny.
The other reason this movie is funny and why I really enjoyed the film is Woody Harrelson. The plot and satire are funny but probably not enough to sustain a film. Harrelson gives Zombieland that extra push to make it noteworthy and memorable. It's a performance that reminded me a lot of the bowling classic 'Kingpin' which Harrelson was fantastic in. Harrelson's chemistry with his 'Kingpin' costar Bill Murray makes for one of the best cameos of all time. Harrelson doesn't take the material seriously and for the benefit of the film this is why his performance is so funny. They could have easily casted an SNL alum in the role and have him parody this arch type. Harrelson plays it relatively straight to the punchline where the audience and Harrelson share a laugh. It's inspired casting and when he gets his long awaited twinkie at the films end there was applause.
The problem which brings Zombieland down from being a great film is that it is still a Zombie film. Despite being self aware about the zombie scenario our heroes still make the same mistakes made in lesser Zombie films. These Zombies are agile as well. I wanted slow pacing and moaning Zombies of Romero films. I can't imagine why this approach wasn't taken because it would provide riper material. We have fast moving 28 Days Later zombies. I suppose these are scarier but fear isn't what this film is going for. The film is also surprisingly gory. Not surprisingly for a zombie picture but I was disappointed to see it because I think the film was strong enough without it. The line between satire and what is being parodied is mulled when some of the explicit gore is on the screen. I can stomach gore fine but the film looses some of it's comic effect this way. It doesn't hurt the film but it lessens it.
At any rate Zombieland is a great example of pulp entertainment done right.