Zombies have overrun America, if not the world, and the country is a wasteland crawling with the undead.  Four survivors travel the devastated landscape looking for refuge and a safe haven free of the walking dead.  Zombieland sounds like a lot of other movies out there, but what Z-land, with its mix of comedy, horror, action, romance, and buddy/road movie, has going for it is that it is really good.  And it all works.  For the most part.

College student Columbus, having survived his hot neighbor trying to make him into a meal, sets out for Ohio to find his parents.  His neurotic, paranoid, shut-in nature has prepared him rather wisely for life on the road amidst a zombie apocalypse.  After losing his car, he meets Tallahassee on the deserted, dangerous highways.  Tallahassee (most everyone is named for where they are going or where they come from), who loves his weapons and misses his puppy, was in the ass kicking business before the zombies took over, and now, as he expresses with particular glee, “business is good”. 

As a land of the dead odd couple, Columbus and Tallahassee are perfectly paired:  Columbus wants to find his family, Tallahassee is on a crusade for Twinkies.  Zombieland is great with just these two roaming from town to town, and when the two discover Wichita and her younger sister, Little Rock, the movie doesn’t lose any of its charm or
gory delight.  At first a battle of wills, wits, and minds ensues among the four before deciding to carpool to Pacific Playland, an amusement park.

This ain’t Shaun of the Dead, but it nearly reaches that high bar.  The laughs make up for the few (and minor) low parts of Zombieland.  With such a mixture of styles, it does strike a lot of familiar notes in the action, horror, and romantic comedy genres, though they are struck in a party spirit.  With all the silliness and fun that abounds, Zombieland‘s sparse dramatic scenes feel clunky and misplaced.  But it’s just so damn funny, it’s easy to let it slide.  Not to mention that it’s so well made.  And funny.

4 out of 5
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