Zombieland: Double Tap Reviews

  As an entertaining sequel to 2009’s hit movie, Zombieland: Double Tap delivers silly fun, eccentric catch phrases, and above all else, zombies. Director Ruben Fleischer, who reunites with the original cast of Zombieland, explores how the world has changed since we last checked in. The cast remains a perfect fit together, as all four of the main characters bounce back and forth off each other with seamless chemistry. Their unique personalities complement each other and provide the fuel for a hilarious action-comedy flick. With the original writing staff also signing on (Paul Wernick and Rhett Reese as well as newcomer Dave Callaham), the quirkiness and exceptional feel of the original still ring true. In a world with an abundance of zombie films, Zombieland: Double Tap stands out amongst the crowd, providing a truly enjoyable experience.   Double Tap picks the story right back up with Tallahassee (Woody Harrelson), Wichita (Emma Stone), Little Rock (Abigail Breslin), and Columbus (Jesse Eisenberg). The tight-knit crew is making their way towards the unoccupied White House, as they look to set up a new home for themselves. The world has changed, there are fewer people, and zombies are evolving. Formerly mindless creatures looking to devour brains, they have evolved into smart, sneaky, and in some cases, almost indestructible foes. Regardless of the new age zombies, the foursome is living out a seemingly perfect fantasy life, given the circumstances. Of course, things never stay perfect forever, as Little Rock and Wichita decide to venture back out into the wasteland, leaving their friends behind with an unexpected goodbye note.   Fleischer does an impressive job avoiding disjointed and mindless zombie action while telling a story that flows, deciding to focus on relationships and the characters. There are some new additions to the cast, like the insufferable Madison (Zoey Deutch), whose portrayal feels more forced than anything, as well as great characters like Nevada (Rosario Dawson) and Albuquerque (Luke Wilson). Although some of the comradery among the main cast is impacted, there is still a crazy story, full of heart and hilarity. The decision to have Eisenberg narrate again is appreciated, as it brings a personal touch to the story, along with some entertaining looks into the rest of world (the Zombie Kill of the Year award in particular). Double Tap is completely self-aware and never tries to overstay its welcome; the film makes an apocalyptic overworld feel natural and alive, all while swarms of undead beings inhabit it.   Zombieland: Double Tap feeds off the clever writing, the creative direction, and the chemistry within the cast. These ingredients make an absolute blast of a movie, one that respects its new audience and established fanbase alike. Moviegoers expecting constant zombie-slaying action may be disappointed, as Double Tap tends to focus more on the journey over anything else; this is a welcome decision that makes for a better film.