I've started to watch more horror type movies in the last several years.  I usually don't see them until they are out on DVD or turn up on one of the movie channels I get.  I was interested in Zombieland when I saw the trailers, but I didn't get the chance to see it at that point.  I recently decided to pick up the DVD and I just watched it.

Most of the population of the world has become zombies thanks to a virus.  A rather geeky college student, Columbus, survives mostly because he is afraid of just about everything.  He encounters another survivor, Tallahassee and the two of them decide to travel together for a while.  Tallahassee is very skilled at killing zombies and he is determined to find a Twinkie.  They meet up with Wichita and Little Rock, sisters who aren't exactly what they seem.  The four don't really get along well at first, but they end up deciding to stick together for a while.

When Zombieland begins, the zombies are already running rampant around the country.  Columbus does some narration, explaining some of his rules for surviving.  As the movie continues, he does more narration tied to other things going on.  He does explain how the first human was infected as well as explaining his first encounter with a zombie.  There really isn't a lot happening during the movie and there isn't much of a plot. Columbus has a notion of returning to Columbus Ohio and Tallahassee seems to just be wondering aimlessly, killing zombies while trying to find a Twinkie.  Wichita and Little Rock are determined to keep each other safe while getting to a specific destination.  Most of the movie just shows the four of them traveling and killing zombies.  It would have been nice if the plot had been stronger, though the thin plot does work for the movie for the most part.  Certain things that happen are predictable, though there is still a surprise or two as well.

A lot of zombies are killed during Zombieland and the kills tend to be rather violent and gory.  Some zombies are showing attacking people, and those attacks are extremely gory.  There is a lot of blood shown and the movie is probably too violent for some people.  Some action turns up in a few scenes, though I really don't consider this to be an action packed movie.  At one point, one character deals with a lot of zombies alone and that stretches believability, even for this type of movie.  There is also a decent amount of comedy that turns up throughout the movie, usually through things that are said or done by Columbus or Tallahassee.  I think the comedy and horror elements have been blended well together for the movie.  Since the movie is rated R, it is not a movie for children.

There are four main characters in Zombieland, none of whom are identified by actual names.  One of them does share their real first name very late in the movie.  Columbus has dealt with the zombies and survived despite being a bit of a wimp who is scared of just about everything.  His fear has probably made him more careful and prepared.  The few things about his past shared make it seem like he was a bit of a nerd before the zombies took over.  Jesse Eisenberg is fine in the part.  

Tallahassee is a bit older than Columbus and has a different way of looking at things.  He is very good at killing zombies and will use whatever is available as a weapon.  He is also obsessed with finding a Twinkie and will take time to look for one every chance he gets.  There is more to Tallahassee than there seems to be at first.  Woody Harrelson does a great job with the part.  Wichita and Little Rock are sisters who are willing to do whatever necessary to stay alive.  I didn't like them as much for a lot of the movie because of a few things they did.  Emma Stone and Abigail Breslin are fine in the parts.  

Very little is shared about any of the characters.  Columbus is in more of the movie than the others and a little more is shared about him, but there is still a lot that isn't known about him.  The lack of details about the characters doesn't hurt the movie that much overall, though it would have been nice if the characters were fleshed out just a bit more.  At one point, Columbus talks about his neighbor and he only calls her 406.  There is a cameo in the movie that I think works really well.

Main Cast

Abigail Breslin - Little Rock
Jesse Eisenberg - Columbus
Woody Harrelson - Tallahassee
Emma Stone - Wichita

Ruben Fleischer - Director

DVD Information

Even though I hadn't seen Zombieland when it was out in the theaters, I decided to go ahead and pick up the DVD after it came out.  I did find it on sale, otherwise I would have waited to rent it.  My copy has the anamorphic widescreen version of the movie.  I don't know if there is a full screen version as well or not.  The extras include a commentary with the writers, director, Harrelson and Eisenberg that I haven't listened to yet.  There are also some deleted scenes, a few short featurettes about the making of the movie that were interesting, and something that shows the progression of the visual effects in some scenes.

Zombieland has a few issues, but it is still a very fun and entertaining movie.  People that like movies that blend horror and comedy elements should give it a chance.  This isn't a move that will appeal to everyone.

This review is part of CaptainD's Good Movies EpiGuide 3 Write Off.

Recommended: Yes

Viewing Format: DVD