Zombieland: Double Tap Makes Franchise Live Again

There’s an old saying “Patience is a virtue,” and many action comedy fans have been waiting an entire decade for the sequel to one of the most hilarious zombie flicks since Shaun of the Dead. I’m talking about Zombieland, and with some of the more recent releases leaving the taste of decomposing flesh in my mouth, I stepped into Zombieland: Double Tap hoping for a palate-cleanser. So, grab your boomsticks, and cowboy hats as I give you guys my thoughts.

Ten years after the events of the first film, in an America overrun by zombies, survivors Tallahassee (Woody Harrelson), Columbus (Jesse Eisenberg), Wichita (Emma Stone), and Little Rock (Abigail Breslin) have become experts in identifying and disposing of various zombies. Visiting the abandoned White House, Columbus decides to propose to Wichita using the Hope Diamond, while Tallahassee rebuffs Little Rock’s hopes of meeting a boy and starting her own family. The next morning, Tallahassee finds a note from Wichita and Little Rock, who have left due to Little Rock feeling Tallahassee still treats her like a child, and Wichita’s fear she is too attached to Columbus.

Double Tap was a laugh riot from beginning to end, and given my cynical critic pitch black heart, getting me to say that is no small feat. It sticks to its guns (pardon the pun, but I couldn’t help it) when it comes to its jokes, using a heaping helping of slapstick and meta humor on par with the previous film. This is partly due to the evil genius duo of Rhett Reese and Paul Wernick, and franchise newcomer David Callham, each with a hit or miss resume of writing credits to their name, but they were all at their best this time around.

I was extremely trepidatious over Reuben Fleischer stepping in the director’s seat, due to the fact that I haven’t enjoyed a single movie from him since the original Zombieland. I’m proud to say I was worried over nothing, he was able to double down of the slapstick action scenes from the previous entry, with some exquisite use of practical effects for top notch gore.

The cast was nothing short of awesome — returning cast members sank into their roles like a comfortable pair of socks. Newcomers Rosario Dawson, Avan Jogia and Zoey Deutch each bring their own comedic energy to Double Tap; Dawson’s Nevada worked so well as Harrelson’s better half, Jogia and Deutch’s characters (Berkeley and Madison respectively) were purposefully annoying so they could fulfill their roles as the butts of many jokes.

The music was awesome as well, a very eclectic soundtrack, you even get a chance to hear Woody Harrelson’s dulcet tones at one point.

It’s not every day that a guy can say a zombie movie lifted their spirits, but I felt really good after leaving the theater and if you are a fan of the first Zombieland, you will too.

I give Zombieland: Double Tap (Columbia Pictures, R, 99 minutes) a 5 out of 5.