Zombieland: Genius or Failure?
image via LA Times
It’s been a week since I’ve seen Zombieland, and I’m still struggling on a “thumbs up” or “thumbs down” review. On one hand, this movie attracted thousands of uniformed civilians to the genre and successfully planted apocalypse seeds in their minds. However, for die-hard zombie fans, the movie felt more like a mockery of zombie movie canon. So, I’ve decided to put together a pros and cons list to help.
Pros
- Doesn’t Take Itself Seriously.
- Arcade style zombie-killing sprees, little zombie girls in princess costumes, machine guns and hummers. This movie can definitely take a joke.
- Famous Actor Cameo.
- Not to spoil the surprise, but a certain half-hour special appearance takes Pro #1 to a whole new level.
- Zombie Rules
- Rule #1: Cardio, Rule #2: Double Tap, Rule #3: Beware of Bathrooms, etc. Learn them, live them. These will save your life.
- Simplicity
- If you’re looking for a thought-provoking movie with developed characters and meaningful subplots, this movie is not it. If you’re looking for a road trip movie with lots of zombie killings, this movie exceeds expectations.
Cons
- Michael Cera
- Ok, so it’s actually Cera’s clone, Jesse Eisenberg. Unfortunately, the movie takes a turn for the worse in the middle with the awkward coming-of-age subplot typical to many Cera comedies lately. Poor Eisenberg has to get the last eligible girl in America drunk before she’ll consider him a love interest. Who cares about budding pubescent love during the zombie apocalypse anyway?
- Crude Humor
- The jokes appeal to a wide audience, but that’s because many of them are about fat people, strippers, little old ladies, etc. Nothing new here, except for the zombie in the background. Also, there’s a strange undertone of racism towards Native Americans.
- Lack of Respect for the Genre
- Most audience members won’t care about this. And that’s ok. This movie was made for the masses, not a niche audience. But Shaun of the Dead was marketed that way too, and it still held reverence for those who came before it. This is picky, but where was the nod to Romero?
I had some problems with this movie. I probably went in with too many expectations. Any movie that is instantly labeled a “cult classic” draws extra scrutiny from me. But that doesn’t mean this film wasn’t a good time. I’m sure I’ll be watching it again on DVD release. So, just like Harrelson suggests in the movie, it’s time for me to “nut up or shut up.”
Oh my gosh this movie was ridiculous. I definitely agree that that guy was Michael Cera’s twin though. They have the same voice and mannerisms. And it’s amazing how this movie could be funny, cute, sad and totally gross and scary all at the same time. That really is quite a feat. I didn’t hate the movie, but I’d never watch it again. The beginning was the scariest and I hated how all the zombies had blood pouring out of their mouths all the time. I mean I don’t watch scary movies, so keep that in mind. The last one I have seen was the Sixth Sense and I was scared for months.
Thanks for the detailed review…perfect timing with Halloween this weekend!
I have a question: Are zombie movies ever meant to be taken seriously? I’ve never really seen any of them because I thought they looked kind of dumb, but maybe they are supposed to be kind of dumb.
Haha I love your pros and cons list! This was a great post! I have heard that a lot of people have not liked this movie. I cannot decide if I want to see it or not.
I am so excited you saw this movie! I didn’t really want to see it, but I really wanted to know if people liked it. You have me curious about who makes a special appearance though. I have the same question as Ari. Are zombie movies actually supposed to be taken seriously? I agree that many of them have a certain comical aspect.
You have to take them with a grain of salt. Some are meant to be more serious, but a lot of directors wouldn’t be offended if you found them funny. Many would probably be honored.
I have been debating on whether or not I should watch this movie. Thank you for the review! I love how you make it original and break it down into the pros and cons of the film-especially for those versed in zombie flicks. I love Shaun of the Dead, but know there can never be another that tops it-is this movie a poor attempt to do just that?