Zombieland Starring: Woody Harrelson, Jesse Eisenberg, Emma Stone, Abigail Breslin Director: Ruben Fleischer Runtime: approx 90 minutes Rated: R Release Date: October 2nd, 2009 Reviewed by: Len Berger (ConNotations Film Editor)

The United States has been overrun by plague stricken zombies.  As with all zombies they are hungry and their favorite food is unaffected humans.  Zombieland is a story about a small band of survivors crossing the country to reach their home cities or a safe haven.  They are known by their home cities and first up is Columbus (played by Jesse Eisenberg).  Columbus has developed a set of rules which he deems necessary to survive.  One rule is the “double tap” which assures that your target zombie is properly dispatched.  Shoot him twice; smash her on the head twice and so on.  Another rule is “faster your seat belt” so when your car crashes with a zombie in your back seat the zombie flies through the front window and you do not, allowing you to escape.  Early on one learns to be very careful around bathrooms, hence the rule “beware of bathrooms”.   Zombies have learned that humans have certain needs and hide out waiting to pounce.  These and many other rules pop up throughout the film and give the audience more reasons to laugh.

Tallahassee (played by Woody Harrelson) is just having so much fun targeting the zombies and obsessing about eating that last Twinkie, before the expiration date is reached.  Tallahassee picks up Columbus and off they go in search of their home towns and a Twinkie.   Tallahassee does not exactly buy into Columbus ’s “rules” but does add some of his own including “enjoy the little things” and as time goes on he sure does.  Tallahassee and Columbus find sisters Wichita (played by Emma Stone) and Little Rock (played by Abigail Breslin) and the interaction and dependencies between the players develops for the rest of the film.  The film is about the four having some fun, getting to know each other and perhaps trust each other, in a world of chaos. 

Woody has a blast playing Tallahassee and is one of the highlights of the film.  This is a crazy film that will keep the funny bone a humming.  There is a really great cameo appearance by a Hollywood star in his mansion.  The star offers some advice on how you can walk the streets with the zombies without becoming dinner.  His advise leads to some unanticipated consequences.

Zombieland is rated R for horror, violence, gore and language.  If you enjoy “Human Happy Meals”, seeing zombies get killed or developing human relationships within the context of a hopeless situation you will enjoy the film.  There is a scene after the credits.

Zombieland is rated “A-”.