Cindy Prascik's Review of Zombieland: Double Tap

This weekend it was off to the pictures--a week late, as has become my norm--for Zombieland: Double Tap.

Spoiler level here will be mild, nothing you wouldn't know from the trailers.

The makeshift family from Zombieland soldiers on in the post-zombie apocalypse world.

Ten years on from the first Zombieland, and with many a zombie offering in between, it's remarkable how fresh Double Tap manages to be. Certainly the personalities from the first film remain the same, and there are a fair few nods to the original, but there are enough new faces and new happenings that Double Tap never feels like a warmed-over cash grab.

Zombieland: Double Tap retains its predecessor's sharp sense of humor, with plenty of laugh-out-loud moments tempering gruesome kills. The terrific cast--Jessie Eisenberg, Woody Harrelson, Emma Stone, and Abigail Breslin-- falls right back in step, and the couple new additions are a good fit, each adding something fresh to the mix. The movie is well-paced and doesn't outstay its welcome, a feat that seems a more and more pleasant surprise on the rare occasions it happens these days. Double Tap serves both as an entertaining continuation and a satisfying conclusion (if it is one?) to a fun series. Be sure to stick around for amusing mid- and post-credits stingers.

Zombieland: Double Tap clocks in at 99 minutes and is rated R for "bloody violence, language throughout, and some drug and sexual content."

Zombieland was my number-one movie of 2009, and, ten years later, Double Tap proves a worthy follow-up.

Of a possible nine Weasleys, Zombieland: Double Tap gets eight.

Until next time...

MOVIE REVIEW: ZOMBIELAND: DOUBLE TAP

Zombie slayers Tallahassee, Columbus, Wichita and Little Rock square off against the newly evolved undead.

Director: Ruben Fleisher

Cast: Woody Harrelson, Jesse Eisenberg, Abigail Breslin, Emma Stone, Rosario Dawson, Zoey Deutch, Luke Wilson

Release Date: October 18, 2019

Genres: Action, Comedy, Horror

Rated R for bloody violence, language throughout, some drug and sexual content

Runtime: 1h 39min

Review:

Sometimes delayed sequels to beloved films can leave fan feeling short changed there are plenty of examples out there from Anchorman to Zoolander follow ups.  So it’d be fair to say that going into Zombieland: Double Tap you wouldn’t be remised if you came into this sequel with lowered expectations. Added to the fact, zombies have kind of peppered the cultural zeitgeist since the original premiered.  Somehow Ruben Fleisher and his cast pulled off an impressive bit of alchemy by delivering a worthy follow to the original film.  The film moves at a breakneck speed but it still give you time to get reacquainted with the characters from the first film before introducing a handful of new characters which work impressively well.  Woody Harrelson, Jesse Eisenberg, Abigail Breslin and Emma Stone all fall back into their roles with incredible ease, their love of the character are apparent in each frame of the film.  Joining the group is Zoey Deutch who steals nearly every scene she’s in as vapid blond.  Rosario Dawson is always a welcome addition and she works well as a counter point and love interest to Woody Harrelson’s Tallahassee.  More familiar faces show up before the whole things done, don’t leave right when the credits roll, and its all so much fun you don’t really notice or care that there’s not really much a plot in this sequel which ultimately doesn’t matter. 

A-

Movie Reviews: ZOMBIELAND

Sunday, October 04, 2009
Movie Reviews: ZOMBIELAND
IN THEATERS

ZOMBIELAND

A cowardly shut-in named Columbus (Jesse Eisenberg) is forced to join up with a seasoned zombie slayer named Tallahassee (Woody Harrelson) in order to survive the zombie apocalypse. As Tallahassee sets out on a mission to find the last Twinkie on Earth, the duo meets up with Wichita (Emma Stone) and Little Rock (Abigail Breslin), two young girls who have resorted to some rather unorthodox methods to survive amidst the chaos. Reluctant partners in the battle against the undead, all four soon begin to wonder if it might be better to simply take their chances alone. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide

Cast: Woody Harrelson, Jesse Eisenberg, Emma Stone, Abigail Breslin

Director: Ruben Fleischer

Opened ..October 2, 2009..

Runtime: 1 hr. 21 min.

Rated R for horror violence/gore and language

Genres: Horror Comedy, Horror



Review:




Zombieland is very much like a rollercoaster ride, filled with frights and fun which is only occasionally marked with slow or choppy moments and over way too quickly. First time director Ruben Fleischer makes an impressive debut never lingering too long on any moment or situation. Fleisher makes some fun stylistic choices throughout, the opening sequence and rule breakdown are good fun, and keeps the pacing brisk. Plotting is straight forward and it doesn’t bother itself with extraneous details. It’s a road movie and while most will compare it to Shaun of the Dead because of the zombie comedy aspect but in actuality it feels more like a zombie filled National Lampoon’s Vacation with a motley crew of characters. Leading this crew is Woody Harrelson in full ham mode is hilarious throughout and somehow manages to makes us believe the connection he makes with the characters towards the end of the film. Jesse Eisenbern is great as the straight man to Harrelson manic energy and gives Michael Cera a run for his money in the awkward 20 something category. Emma Stone and Abigail Breslin play con artist sisters and they do decently but aren’t given much to do outside of shooting guns and stealing SUV’s. An inspired celebrity cameo give the film’s middle section a much needed boost as the film starts to lag. The finale in the amusement park will make you long for a rollercoaster where you can shoot zombies as you speed along the tracks. Zombieland is the type of film that hard not enjoy in its entire gooey zombie bashing goodness.



A-