For what it is....

Rating: Null/10 (4 September 2013)

No matter how skilled you are with what's the latest Oscar Buzz or equipped with the knowledge of anticipating which film this week will sustain the longevity of film history such as No Country for Old Men, The Dark Knight, or The Artist, sometimes you have to take films for what they are and judge them on what they try to be. Such is the case with Zombieland. In a film that frolics its way through its well-paced 88 minute running time, Zombieland isn't lacking the quality as the title suggests. The film covers its ground with of developing its characters, fulfilling story arcs, and adding gore on the gore.
Zombieland's use of narration is maybe the key to the film that makes it positively stand out from all the horror-comedies today. Though the film tries to market the adult audience through the respected Woody Harrelson and Oscar nominee, Abigail Breslin, the newcomers (at the time of release), Jesse Eisenberg and Emma Stone carry the picture well for the cards they were dealt. Were they inexperienced? Sure. But every great star must begin their walk on some street, no matter how shady it may appear.
The focus on selling the film to teenage nerds through identification could use some lessons in subtly, forcing the "typical sissy-geek who will eventually turn hero" character type down the throats of its audience. Zombieland is certainly gunning for a target audience, but the film would've been fine without all the stereotypes, even if every audience member doesn't come with the experimental histories of the protagonist.
Though this is a movie about an apocalyptic zombie world, Zombieland at least sets sails in the right direction, even if what it preaches (loneliness and substituting friends for family) has been told countless other times in film and television before. Zombieland works as a satire, and at the very least, a well-made, enjoyable popcorn flare.
Rating: 6/10 Grade: B