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BaftaBaby 
"Always entranced by cinema."
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 Posted - 10/09/2009 : 17:36:03
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I think the first time I registered Jesse Eisenberg was in The Squid and the Whale, in which it was clear he had a talent for restrained comedy under the puppy-dog looks of angst. I can't honestly say he carries Zombieland all by himself, but he's a good team player.
Because this is an ensemble piece and more complex than just a genre-spoof. By and large it works and director Ruben Fleischer handles the material well. He gets a chance to show his pacing because the script delivers on its promise of Killing Zombies, but also makes time for some character stuff among the starring quartet. And, as an added bonus, there's plenty of comedy moments to leaven the journey.
Journey's the word. This is essentially a road movie, traveling along a zombie-filled landscape to the goal of Pacific Playland. As a metaphor for real life, it's not so far off!
The quartet are rare survivors of a global infection that has rendered most of humanity into flesh eaters who move much too speedily for comfort. First we meet Eisenberg under the soubriquet Columbus - 'cause he's a'traveling back to his hometown to check whether his parents are truly rotten. He's evolved some rules for survival in Zombieland, and, he's a clever lad so they're sensible enough for him to oversome his nerds enough to keep going.
He meets up with Woody Harrelson, in yet another of those red-necky rascals he does so well. The script gives him some other more subtle dimensions, which he delivers without going OTT. Because he's headed to Florida to rack up his zombie-kill he's called Tallahassee. He's also obsessed by Hostess Twinkies and will walk through fire to get him some. For the non-Americans - these are vile little cakes, two in a cellophane wrapped parcel, and shot through with something resembling cream - though in the context of the film could easily be the bodily fluids of a zombie. Just kidding. I guess if there were an iconic foodstuff to represent popular American culture, the Twinkie would definitely do.
Anyway - this unlikely duo are conned by a couple of sisters - one, Emma Stone as a sort of teeny toned-down Goth and her 12-year-old sibling played by Abigail Breslin. After some on-again off-again smart girls con big boys action, they all team up, the girls taking the names of Witchita and Little Rock. It's Little Rock who's dying to re-visit Pacific Palisades amusement park, reputed to be free of zombies and the site of her happier childhood memories.
Their collective journey defines the plot. Along the way there's a Bill Murray surprise, but I don't want to spoil it for you.
It's not a great film, but especially given what passes for comedy these days, it's enjoyable and engaging.
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silly 
"That rabbit's DYNAMITE."
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Posted - 10/09/2009 : 19:45:31
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I loved it, I thought it came together as a rather solid zombedy.
Our audience loved the dig at Garland, since that's not far from here and we all pretty much agreed  |
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randall
"I like to watch."
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Posted - 10/11/2009 : 16:33:02
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quote:
Originally posted by BaftaBabe
I think the first time I registered Jesse Eisenberg was in The Squid and the Whale, in which it was clear he had a talent for restrained comedy under the puppy-dog looks of angst. I can't honestly say he carries Zombieland all by himself (1), but he's a good team player.
Their collective journey defines the plot. Along the way there's a Bill Murray surprise (2), but I don't want to spoil it for you.
(1) He sure carried ADVENTURELAND.
(2) Oops, too late! |
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MisterBadIdea 
"PLZ GET MILK, KTHXBYE"
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Posted - 10/12/2009 : 20:12:24
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Ehh...
Disappointed by this one. It's certainly no Shaun of the Dead, despite a few great scenes. It's... it's...
Okay, here's my main problem: You know that scene where the entire foursome blows off some steam by destroying the Indian reservation gift shop? It bothers the living hell out of me. Like there's not enough busted shit in their world? There's a deep, dark streak of nihilism in this movie, but the movie doesn't seem to realize it because it keeps throwing so-called sentimental stuff into the mix. It just doesn't work.
And Eisenberg, look, he's a better actor than Michael Cera. A much, much better actor. But no one's better at being Michael Cera than Michael Cera. |
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Joe Blevins 
"Don't I look handsome?"
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Posted - 10/17/2009 : 05:42:01
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I just got back from seeing Zombieland and would like to comment on it. Specifically, MBI's comments below bring up what I feel is an important point:
quote:
Originally posted by MisterBadIdea
Ehh...
Disappointed by this one. It's certainly no Shaun of the Dead, despite a few great scenes. It's... it's...
Okay, here's my main problem: You know that scene where the entire foursome blows off some steam by destroying the Indian reservation gift shop? It bothers the living hell out of me. Like there's not enough busted shit in their world? There's a deep, dark streak of nihilism in this movie, but the movie doesn't seem to realize it because it keeps throwing so-called sentimental stuff into the mix. It just doesn't work.
And Eisenberg, look, he's a better actor than Michael Cera. A much, much better actor. But no one's better at being Michael Cera than Michael Cera.
Trashing the souvenir store didn't bother me one bit, because the place was an awful, tacky, and embarrassingly racist tourist trap. (Remember the "We Wantum Your Wampum" billboard.) It deserved to die. And this scene highlighted one of the very, very few upsides to an apocalyptic scenario: you no longer have to obey the many, many societal rules which -- although they make civilization possible and are neccesary for life as we know it -- can also be a big, huge f-ing drag over the course of a lifetime.
In order to make society work, each one of us has an enormous number of obligations -- both big and small -- to our fellow human beings. Do this, don't do that, etc. For the most part, this is a good thing. Not just good, but absolutely essential if we want to keep living like human beings. And yet, some of us cannot help but occasionally lament the fact that we are are so tightly bound by these obligations and the fact that we sacrifice freedom in the bargain. My right to swing my fist ends where your nose begins. There are some people who cannot or will not live up to their societal obligations. We call them criminals, and we lock them up where they can't hurt us. But can't the average, law-abiding person be forgiven for occasionally daydreaming what it would be like not to be bound by those obligations, if only for a few minutes?
In a scenario like Zombieland, much of what we call society has disintegrated. And yet -- admirably -- our four protagonists do not entirely give up on those societal obligations. But they do give up on a few of them. Like the taboo on smashing up cheap crap in tacky souvenir stores. I don't think that's nihilistic at all. I think that's a natural reaction to living under the often-heavy yoke of human civilization. If there's ever an actual zombie apocalypse, I might smash up a few snow globes myself.
--Joe--
P.S. - Overall, though, MBI is right. This is a pretty good, though not great comedy. |
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ChocolateLady 
"500 Chocolate Delights"
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Posted - 10/18/2009 : 08:48:53
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Well, Joe, if you want a perfect example of this without the Zombies, then perhaps you should watch the BBC TV series "Survivors".
(Which, by the way, makes I Am Legend look like a farce in its far more correct portrayal of what could happen when 90% of the human race is wiped out by a virus. My only problem with the series is: how are they all keeping up their perfect hair styles?) |
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silly
"That rabbit's DYNAMITE."
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Posted - 10/18/2009 : 17:13:07
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quote:
Originally posted by ChocolateLady
Well, Joe, if you want a perfect example of this without the Zombies, then perhaps you should watch the BBC TV series "Survivors".
(Which, by the way, makes I Am Legend look like a farce in its far more correct portrayal of what could happen when 90% of the human race is wiped out by a virus. My only problem with the series is: how are they all keeping up their perfect hair styles?)
I know!
But to be fair, I am Legend has only one "normal" survivor, the rest are zombie/vampire/record executives, so you don't get the rather interesting group dynamics.
I'm pretty sure Zombieland was meant to not be any sort of accurate portrayal of what it would be like to survive a zombie apocalypse, but a satire of this kind of movie |
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MisterBadIdea
"PLZ GET MILK, KTHXBYE"
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Posted - 11/08/2009 : 23:19:27
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quote:
Trashing the souvenir store didn't bother me one bit, because the place was an awful, tacky, and embarrassingly racist tourist trap. (Remember the "We Wantum Your Wampum" billboard.) It deserved to die. And this scene highlighted one of the very, very few upsides to an apocalyptic scenario: you no longer have to obey the many, many societal rules which -- although they make civilization possible and are neccesary for life as we know it -- can also be a big, huge f-ing drag over the course of a lifetime.
Ehh...
No, still can't feel it. I'm much more attuned to the sensibility that can find the beauty in pop cultural detritus and tacky crap and plastic bags floating in the breeze, than the kind that thinks everything is shit that needs to be stomped on. This whole movie, really, is just very... callow. It hasn't earned its sentiment. It doesn't mourn the loss of society, it REVELS in it. You can casually kill your favorite celebrity and it doesn't even matter (and honestly, that whole scene is just fuck-awful with smugness). This is a movie that genuinely doesn't like ANY of society rules, and the romance stuff is half-assed and tacked-on. The general idea of Zombieland is that the total breakdown of society is an avenue to become FUCKING AWESOME. Jesse Eisenberg gets to kill zombies and get laid; Woody Harrelson gets to do same. Even when Woody Harrelson gets his tearful flashback scene, they do it in this satirical snotty tone that prevents you from actually engaging with it. The more I think about this film the less I like it. |
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Demisemicenturian
"Four ever European"
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Posted - 02/16/2010 : 23:21:58
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Zombieland
This would have been good if half the length and as the pilot for a television series, but as it is I was disappointed.
Aren't the characters known by their places of origin? So why do the sisters have different nicknames?
3/5 |
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Zombieland
