Zombieland takes some silliness, a little absurdity, eats a little flesh, and pukes it all on the big screen for some classic fun

By ERIC SUNDERMANN
eric-sundermann@uiowa.edu

Grab your weapon of choice — ax, shotgun, or pitchfork. Enter your destination — restroom, gas station, or restaurant. Now — chop, shoot, or stab a blood-spitting, skin-eating monster. Once they’re destroyed, be on with your business. Welcome to Zombieland, and enjoy your stay, because you can’t escape.

But, who would want to? Zombieland offers the most absurd, gruesome fun you can have outside of witnessing what happens in early morning hours at a few of Iowa City’s most popular downtown establishments.

The film opens with Jesse Eisenberg’s character Columbus (named after his hometown) guiding us through the current state of the Earth. A virus has spread all over the planet in a matter of months, infecting nearly the entire population, turning people into zombies. He shares that he’s the only one he knows who hasn’t been infected, and credits the checklist of rules he’s created. For example, make sure to shoot a zombie twice to ensure its death, wear a seat belt, and be very, very careful in bathrooms.

We learn that Columbus is a bit of a loner and on a quest to find his parents. Eventually, he runs into Tallahassee (Woody Harrelson), and the two venture together — splattering guts all over the pavement one zombie at a time.

Zombieland’s strength comes down to its absurdity. Zombies are funny. They may be gross, undead, and have pus and blood pouring out of their mouths — but they’re funny. The film takes this obvious mannerism and exploits it to create a new spin on the zombie genre. Instead of trying to scare people with zombies (because let’s face it, that’s sometimes the funniest thing about them), the film points out their stupidity and how easy it really is to trick them.

Of course, dynamite performances from both Eisenberg and Harrelson don’t hurt. Eisenburg adopts a geeky side, taking notes and making lists of how to kill the monsters, while Harrelson is Mr. Macho — not afraid to stick an ax between they eyes of a zombie. The opposite personalities create a clever and fun dynamic, giving the film its silliness that it needs to work. (And, without giving away too much, one of Hollywood’s greatest makes a cameo with one of the funniest scenes of the year.)

The idea of zombies has been around since the beginning of time. When a film takes such used up and worn out ideas, but manages to spin it full of new punch lines and fun, it deserves to be commended. Zombieland provides an original and creative outlet not only in that manner, but in the typical movie scene today. This film should not be missed — just don’t forget to pack your pistols.