K.T Simpson
10 years ago, “Zombieland” hit our screens and was a surprise hit, largely due to its unique taste on the zombie-apocalypse genre. While you may think of a ‘double tap’ as a way to efficiently approve of someone’s Insta-post, in Z-Land it refers to the rules of survival: that is, don’t forget to make sure the undead is in fact…dead.
Considering the title, you’d think Sony would insist Ruben Fleischer had given the zombie sub genre an even harder bump this time around. Instead, the belated sequel to coffin dodger satire “Zombieland” serves up as many leaky brains as it does more of the same, but die-hard fans of the fun splatter comedy will find there’s enough loud, laugh-out-moments here to see those minutes pass quickly.
Originally proposed as a 3D sequel – though this was the plan while the first was still in theaters, and things change once the bean counters come in – “Zombieland: Double Tap” is to the unfussy filmgoer what a bowl of intestines is to a reanimated stiff, comfort food.
“Double Tap” picks up 10 years later, both in real time and in Z-Land time, meeting the same group of four as they fight for survival and fight the different types of zombies that dominate the world. Returning to the battle are Tallahassee (Woody Harrelson), Columbus (Jesse Eisenberg), Wichita (Emma Stone) and sister Little Rock (Abigail Breslin) – the latter being notacibly the most changed, having grown up from teen to twenty-something since “Zombieland”.
The foursome have formed quite a bond – according to Tallahassee and Columbus anyway – which hits a speed bump when the sisters take off leaving the boys to fend for themselves. In an effort to overcome his heartbreak, Columbus brings home Madison (Zoey Deutch), a blonde bimbo who’s got little smarts but a positive attitude.
When Wichita shows up sans Little Rock, the group hit the road again, Graceland-bound, to find her and ‘save’ her from her new hippy boyfriend she picked up on the road. The challenge comes in the form of a new form of zombie unseen so far – one that keeps on keeping on well after you’ve ‘double-tapped’.
Much like the first film, “Zombieland: Double Tap” is part road-trip comedy, part Romero-spoof, with witty, expertly-timed banter spliced in between the man vs monster battle scenes that are welcomingly sprinkled throughout. The film continues on its unique humour from the first serving, including a heavy focus on Columbus’ ‘rules for survival’ that personify themselves throughout the flick.
While Dave Callaham, Rhett Reese, and Paul Wernick‘s script doesn’t offer anything new or groundbreaking story-wise, it does succeed in giving most of the cast some terrifically tasty dialogue (well, all but Stone and Breslin, who are incredibly under-utilised) and serves up some very well-written and funny set pieces. These few grand moments, coupled with the excellent production design, result in one really good-looking piece.
Just as winning is the supporting turn from versatile it-girl Deutch (daughter of actress Lea Thompson, of “Back to the Future”), who offers terrific coming timing and credible inaneness to her “House Bunny”-esque bimbo. While the other ladies of the picture aren’t offered much to do but cock-and-load, Deutch gets to show off her dynamite comic chops and immense likeability on a grand scale.
It’s hard to imagine there’s enough juice in the tank to warrant another sequel ten years down the line, but if there is let’s just make sure the libretto packs in more of the new — and no, I’m not referring to heavily-repeated “Terminator” jokes.
