Zombieland is not Shaun of the Dead. It isn't supposed to be; it isn't trying to be; it's a film unto itself. Now that that's out of the way, we can continue. Zombieland is, above all, a lot of fun. In a world overrun by zombies the fast, sentient kind , a group of archetypes have found a way to survive using their respective talents, whether that be running away and limbering up before said running or confronting each flesh-eating problem head-on through the sight of an AK - whatever works to stay alive.
It's a horror comedy that's heavy on the comedy, light on the horror , and with a bizarre garnish of hopefulness, which, when presented along side a post-apocalyptic setting, felt, well, weird. And it's a hell of a way to start his feature directing career. Because, as I said, Zombieland is a lot of fun. It's packed with laughs more akin to sitcom-style comedy; it's loaded with great, inventive kill scenes; it's inhabited by instantly likable characters doing immediately relatable things set on a road trip that very well could have lasted twelve hours - or, well, at least one solid TV season.
And therein lies my one gripe with the film: it shouldn't be film - Zombieland is a television show masquerading as a movie. While fun, it's the kind of fun that is meaningless. Like an unexpected one-night-stand - it's definitely satisfying in the moment, the rush of emotions is a welcome distraction from the otherwise even keel of the usual, and the climax of it all feels great.
But after it's over, well, it doesn't mean anything. I was left longing for more, because what we had was great. There might have been something even greater if I'd just learned her name, asked a few more questions, gotten to know her favorite book rather than just her favorite position-- wait, Zombieland. Zombieland is unfortunately slight. It's not particularly insightful and it's not particularly memorable for anything but that hour and a half of debauchery, but I don't think it's trying to be anything more than that.
In that, it does succeed. Played by Jesse Eisenberg, Woody Harrelson, Emma Stone, and Abigail Breslin, respectively, these survivors are a motley crew of unlikely heroes and heroines. They clash in all the right ways and compliment one another perfectly when needed.
