Zombieland: gut-wrenching comedy, blood-curdling laughter

Rule #2 : Stay away from bathrooms!

Zombieland

Director: Ruben Fleischer
Time: 1 hour, 35 minutes
Genre: Horror/Comedy
Featuring: Woody Harrelson, Jesse Eisenberg, Emma Stone and Abigail Breslin

Ah, zombies. The past decade has seen a recent surge in films that focus on these brainless, once-human, flesh-eating bad boys. Zombieland joins the fray with the recognizable traits that characterize the typical zombie film. However, Ruben Fleischer builds his film with a comedic atmosphere, distinctively different from other zombie movies.

This combination creates a film that is suprisingly funny and refreshing.

Zombieland is the post-apocalpytic story of "Columbus" (played by Jesse Eisenberg), an introverted survivor of a global zombie catastrophy, which was caused by some generic mutated virus. Columbus believes that he's survived this long due to his adamant belief in a set of rules, two of which include "the double tap" (to make sure a zombie is really dead) and to "avoid public restrooms." He eventually comes across "Talahasse," a rugged male who has seemed to have found his life passion in killing zombies.

As the two make their way to the west coast, they bump into a duo of sisters played by the beautiful Emma Stone and the adorable Abigail Breslin. Together, the four make their perilous journey west.

The acting in Zombieland is pretty standard, as each character seems to have been casted well. Eisenberg's played and introverted adolescent dealing with relationship issues in his past role in "Adventureland" so playing Columbus wasn't a particularly drastic role change. The same can be attributed for Stone and Breslin, who also revive similar past roles. However, Harrelson is outstanding as Talahasse and there is a specific guest cameo in Zombieland that is icing on the cake.

Where Zombieland shines is in its pure homage to horror movies of the past. Unlike corny horror/comedies like the "Scary Movie" franchise, Zombieland is very classy and witty in its respects. There are many easter eggs to classic horror films such as  "Deliverance," "Dawn of the Dead" and "28 Days Later" scattered throughout the hour and 35 minutes of fun that Zombieland truly is.

But Zombieland is not for everyone. If you can't appreciate the tribute and allusions to the zombie genre as a whole, you may not enjoy all that Zombieland has to offer. The film is filled with gore, crude language, and very snide remarks that many will miss.

But hey, if that's your thing, definitely catch Zombieland.

3.8 out of 5 stars