A Funny Gore-Fest

I watched Zombieland, a horror-comedy featuring Woody Harrelson who starred in last year’s Oscar-nominated The Messenger. The last time I recall him in an enjoyable film was White Men Can’t Jump, and the Oliver Stone’s values-defining Natural Born Killers. He has acted in some films that did not do as well in the box office, however that does not mean he is not a good actor – he is. The Messenger reminds us that Woody can still take on tough, testosterone-infused, and emotional roles.

Movies dealing with the genre of the undead are best left to those with eclectic tastes. Directors of this cultish genre include Sam Raimi, well known for the Evil Dead films, and lately, the Spiderman trilogy; 28 Days Later (Danny Boyle, of Slumdog Millionaire fame); and Shaun of the Dead (Edgar Wright). Many films were modeled after video arcade games. If you are into blast-into-dust games, then it is lock-and-load with the plastic sidearm. Harrelson plays the Twinkies-obsessed gun-totting alpha-male, Tallahassee who awkwardly partners up with paranoid nerd, Columbus (Jessie Eisenberg). Columbus has written up 31 rules for surviving the evil carnivores which he reminds us of, throughout the film when the predators emerge, often enticed by music or carnival lights.

Columbus and Witchita (Emma Stone) turn in the love interest, and what would a zombie film be without the perfunctory romantic interest. Fortunately, other than very good special effect, prosthetic work and gore, it is not that disgusting as other films with infected cannibals. Abigail Breslin (Little Miss Sunshine) as Little Rock (she is 12) rounds out the quartet of this motley crew, the sister of Witchita who wants to enjoy a Disneyland-like amusement park she never experienced. The highlight for us is when is initiated to Ghostbusters and a larger-than-cameo actor makes his brief but memorable appearance.

In a cubicle: a hail of funny bullets, with the occasional jolts of shock. The opening scenes are well choreographed just to establish the pace, which does not disappoint.