The buzz for 'Zombieland' keeps growing -- and it deserves all the accolades it's getting. If you liked 'Shaun of the Dead' or have even a remote interest in schlocky horror movies, zombies or just laughing in general, then you'll most likely love this flick. Will it wind up in the running for Best Picture at the Oscars? Probably not. But is it possibly the most entertaining movie of the year? Hell yeah. Of course, 'Zombieland' isn't for everyone ... I have a feeling my mother wouldn't find it as entertaining as, say, a 17-year-old kid who spends his day reading horror comics and playing video games. But falling somewhere in the middle, I was giddy with excitement and knew within the first five minutes that this was one for the DVD collection.
The tale of an unlikely zombie-killing duo made up of kind-hearted geek Columbus (Jesse Eisenberg) and bad ass Tallahassee (Woody Harrelson) as ill-fated allies trying to survive in a post-apocalyptic world is full of witty banter, sight gags and black humor. Eisenberg and Harrelson bring just the right amount of sweet and salty to the mix, serving up a twisted buddy comedy featuring flesh-eating foes. Throw in a snarky but sexy babe (Emma Stone), an almost all-grown-up Abigail Breslin ('Little Miss Sunshine') and a killer cameo by a beloved actor (who will remain nameless for fear of ruining the surprise if you don't know already), and, well, maybe it actually does have something for everyone.
A word of advice though: See 'Zombieland' before you hear too much more about it -- because half the fun is not knowing what to expect next.
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Reader Comments (8)
Nate at 6:31PM on Oct 4th 2009
Review of a Review
Katy Kroll writes movie reviews for MovieFone, which is where I go when deciding where, what time and what movie I am going to see. Their reviews are typically straight forward and helpful, but, Katy Kroll’s review of Zombieland was not.
The biggest flaw was in her emotional tone and the ability to relate to her audience. I will admit it is a hard audience to relate to, with all the audience being of different spectrums of genres. Between the Dungeons and Dragons crowd, that lives for an outbreak of zombies, to just the ordinary “I want to watch large objects crush soulless human creatures.” The problem in her inadequate ability to relate is because she is not in our crowd; she almost tries too hard to related which only makes for an even more detachment. A good example is when she answers her own question, “But is it possibly the most entertaining movie of the year? Hell yeah.” Her usage of hell is in a manner that seems like when my Grandma is trying to add more emphasis on a statement, and uses the word, “heck” a rebellious act of innocence. Not the tone of a person interested in beauty of brain splattering techniques, of killing zombies.
Katy’s tone is more towards that of a romantic comedy, starring Drew Barrymore with her drastically doleful life before Tom Hanks sweeps her off her feet. That is not the tone I want in a review about a movie, whose theme is witty ways of bone crushing zombie killing. It also does not say how she views the movie, she recommends it and leads you believe it is a good movie but it doesn’t have any personal relationship to it like the usage of a statement like “I laughed so hard at all the whimsically humor” which leads me to the conclusion that she wrote a review by reading other reviews, so I would give her review a one star out of ten. One for the effort of typing the keys.
Javier at 8:08PM on Oct 23rd 2009
It seems like you think a movie review should be written by someone who only likes a certain kind of movie, rather than by a movie critic. You’ve dismissed Katy Kroll’s review because she’s “not in our crowd” and not interested in “killing zombies.” Wow.
If you are waiting for an actual zombie killer to write a review, you should come to grips with the truth: zombies and their killers aren’t real. Movies are works of fantasy and they are reviewed by people trained in movie-making and writing.
A good reviewer has an opinion and a command of the written word to clearly express it, both of which Katy has demonstrated. Her review was well crafted and understandable; just the opposite of yours.
Jesse at 11:12AM on Oct 5th 2009
This review might just send me out to spend a few bucks on an actual movie ticket. I have been hearing mild kudos about this film but this is the first time I have read anything that explains why i should see it.
So off I go to the Cineplex, to splurge on popcorn and milk duds.
Thanks Katy Kroll, you made my day.
Nico Toscani at 12:29AM on Oct 7th 2009
A fantastic movie. I haven't laughed out loud at a movie this much in a long time. Works much better as a black comedy than a horror (or gore, or zombie) picture. Woody is fantastic and there is one of the greatest cameos in the history of film.
Kevin at 8:56PM on Oct 14th 2009
Review of Nate's Review of a Review
Wow, that was uncalled for! Katy Kroll simply wrote a little blurb to tell people that she suggests seeing this movie. Usually, the editor's pick is a good choice to go see, I can't remember the last time I disagreed with the editor's pick on moviefone.com. Nate says Katy Kroll is not part of "our croud". If "our croud" includes people like Nate who feel some ridiculous need to lambast someone for absolutely no reason, then I don't want to be a part of it either. What a jerk. Thanks Katy, good suggestion, I thoroughly enjoyed it.
Lil Bear 11 at 9:35PM on Oct 14th 2009
I thought this movie is very funny! I went in there thinking it was going to be good and i came out saying it was fantastic! Havent laughed so hard in awhile and it just has a great plot and summary in it.....shanananananewnee!!!!!!!!!!!!
Dangermouse at 3:59PM on Oct 19th 2009
Katy's review isn't chock full of details, but it really isn't meant to be, so it's fine. I'm not sure what Nate is getting at either. My theory is that Nate is a zombie, maybe that's what he means by "our crowd". That's okay though, we've got a way of dealing with him, that would be rule # 2 Double Tap.
See the movie, it's great, it's gross, you'll laugh and have a good time. See our review of Zombieland at: www.zombiewatchnetwork.com
Ive posted at 11:49AM on Oct 27th 2009
Is anyone else gonna review the reviews of Nate the zombie before I bone crush him?