Zombieland is not the reinvention of the zombie horror genre but it is the innovation of it. Fun, not based on blood and splatter but occurring around it and because of it, is the grand exhale awaiting horror and zombie film inside of the realm of Zombieland, or Zland, as it’s surviving, human inhabitants refer to it as.

With Torture Horror on the decline of popularity and certain zombie films not living up to the hype, 28 Days Later and 28 Weeks Later being the exception, Zombieland takes the road less traveled, and involves a far less realistic approach to the end of society via zombies and a zombie virus. At same time, the viewer is given a comedy horror movie hybrid involving zombies and the undead running unhindered across the globe.

The greatest comedic asset to Zombieland are the rules introduced by the film’s main protagonists Columbus Ohio (Jesse Esienberg), and later expanded upon when he comes into contact with Tallahassee (Woody Harrelson), Wichita (Emma Stone), and Little Rock (Abigail Breslin). The survival rules are flashed across the screen first as an illustration of the ways in which Columbus Ohio has managed to stay alive when almost everyone else in society has perished and second as comedic billboard elaboration of what just happened on screen and why it has occurred. Everyone will have their own favorite rule(s): Rule 1. Cardio, Rule 2. Double Tap, Rule 3. Beware of bathrooms, etc. Double Tap is the rule that will probably be the crowd favorite as it used to great effect numerous times. Double Tap is not a mere Columbus Ohio rule for surviving in a zombie-infested world. It is also an admonishment for the asinine behavior exhibited by protagonists in many previous zombie films where they believe the zombie to be dead (idiotic since they are already deceased) only to be attacked, bitten, and doomed (being bitten infects you with the zombie disease) because of their oversight and lack of thoroughness.

Zombieland is not perfect and was never intended to be the quintessential zombie film, the zombie genre’s The Godfather. That title probably belongs to Romero’s Day of the Dead, which examined societal behaviors in the context of a zombie movie. Diverting from social commentary was zombie foray Shaun of the Dead, where the film’s main protagonists were actually human zombies, drones oblivious to the world around them. Shaun of the Dead successfully mixed comedy with a zombie outbreak like in Zombieland but not nearly with as much flare as has been accomplished in this film

Zombie lexicon digressions aside, Ruben Fleischer’s Zombieland, like its final local, is an amusement park for zombie and horror film lovers. The implications of the characters’ lackadaisical attitudes and apocalyptic realities (represented in McCarthy’s book The Road and Matheson’s book I Am Legend) are left by the side of the road like expired Twinkies. Like Twinkies however, Zombieland is sweet and will be out of your system quickly but it is fun while being consumed.

==Written by Reginald Williams==

==From: Film-Book dot Com==

Zombie movies are a dime a dozen and, at this point, most U.S. citizens have either written, starred in, or been an extra in a zombie film. Over the years we’ve seen scary zombies (“Night of the Living Dead,” “28 Days Later”), funny zombies (“Shaun of the Dead,” “Cemetery Man”), cheerleader zombies (“Zombie Cheerleader Camp”), and so many others. So why do we need another zombie movie? Well, I was wondering the same thing—and then I saw “Zombieland.” Directed by Reuben Fleischer, from a script by Rhett Reese and Paul Wernick, this is something of a new kind of zombie flick; a wild, contemporary, all-American joyride that gleefully answers the question on everyone’s mind: What happens when the zombies win? It’s narrated by a neurotic anti-hero, the nerdy, overly talkative Columbus (Jesse Eisenberg), and it unfolds in a world where zombies roam free and living people are few and far between. How did this happen? It has something to do with Mad Cow disease, but really, who cares? There are zombies everywhere!

Columbus survived the sudden influx of the undead thanks to a few simple rules, somewhat reminiscent of the no-nonsense advice doled out in Max Brooks' indispensable book, “The Zombie Survival Guide.” (For example, Columbus' rule #1: cardio—thanks to strong, aerobic conditioning, he can outrun any number of lumbering zombies, which he illustrates in an early scene as he tuckers out a group of moaning maniacs by running in circles.) On his way to Ohio, Columbus runs into Tallahassee (Woody Harrelson), a bad-ass, zombie-killing cowboy who grudgingly agrees to give Columbus a lift. Soon, this unlikely duo is beating the crap out of slobbering zombies and searching for the one thing in the world that Tallahassee desires most: twinkies. This unique odd-couple screen team bring out the best in each other as they struggle to stay alive amidst the brain-hungry morass, and as they meet up with troublemaking sisters Wichita (Emma Stone) and Little Rock (Abigail Breslin). Before you can say, "Kill the Brain, Kill the Ghoul," this fearless foursome embark on a bizarre, gory road trip through the wasteland that was once America. Their cross-country journey culminates in Los Angeles, where the blood-splattered crew visit a real live celebrity, whose stunning, surreal cameo is the films’ high point. The less said about this the better; suffice it to say, it’s brilliant and choke-on-your-Rasinettes funny. In fact, the whole finale, in a deserted amusement park, is the perfect climax for an already over-the-top film.

On the surface, filmmaker Ruben Fleischer has crafted a big budget extravaganza complete with fiery car explosions and hijacked amusements park rides. But the soul of “Zombieland” is low budget. That’s a compliment. The film operates in an offbeat world of the unexpected. In scene after scene you can feel the cast and crew trying fresh things. Whether it’s the recurring, creative references back to Columbus’ rules for survival or a fantastic little riff featuring the “Zombie Kill of the Week,” Fleischer and crew are obviously having fun at every turn. That energy jumps off the screen and makes up for a handful of quiet, dialogue-driven scenes that come off a bit flat. Quiet is not this film’s forte; “Zombieland” works best when it’s turned up to 11. These filmmakers are clearly fans of “Shaun of the Dead,” “Evil Dead 2” and other classic horror zomedies. But "Zombieland" is more than a straight-up homage or postmodern redux. It’s got more on its mind than gut-chomping brutes on parade. This movie is about family and the importance of human connections in a world overrun by madness and mayhem. That may sound corny, and it is, but it’s also true. And what better way to get that message across then by killing zombies? Amazingly, “Zombieland” was #1 at the box office on its opening weekend. What does this mean? Americans crave subversive horror comedies at the multiplex? Woody Harrelson has way more fans than anyone knew? Zombies rule? Maybe it’s all of the above. Regardless, there’s no denying that “Zombieland” is a trippy, exhilarating road trip flick for B-movie fans and zombie geeks everywhere.

==Written by Brendan Peterson==

==From: In Review Online (www.inreviewonline.com)==

One of the most popular horror film villains is the zombie, popularized for modern audiences by George A. Romero with Night of the Living Dead in 1968, Dawn of the Dead 10 years later, and beyond. Zombie films have been serious and comedic over the years, and the latest example of the latter is Zombieland, a witty, fun, and extremely entertaining piece of silliness that will be heaven for those partial to the mix of horror and comedy.

As with most zombie films, Zombieland is set in a world where a zombie outbreak has left the world's cities and towns deserted by humans and left trashed, with hungry zombies roaming the place for "food." The film follows two men, Columbus (Jessie Eisenberg) and Tallahassee (Woody Harrelson), who have found a way to survive the overrun world of zombies. Joining forces with Wichita (Superbad's Emma Stone) and Little Rock (Little Miss Sunshine's Abigail Breslin), they continue to try and survive the land of the zombies.

Zombieland is one of those films that delivers exactly what it says on the tin. Anyone going in expecting anything deep or meaningful needs to seriously re-think their movie judgment. What makes it such a fun watch is the great mix of comedy and horror, but like another zombie horror comedy, Shaun of the Dead, it leans more toward the comedy side of things. Almost every moment is filled with witty and genuinely funny dialogue: the abusive but playful banter between Eisenberg (who seems like a funnier, more effective Michael Cera) and Harrelson (who's clearly having a lot of fun playing this gun-toting role) is an absolute joy to watch. Apart from the fun performances, this enjoyment comes from the fact that the two characters are polar opposites — Columbus is paranoid, cautious, and slightly shy and reserved, while Tallahassee is confident, casual, and almost blasé. Them playing off of one another is surprisingly one of the strongest elements of the film.

What may not be clear from the get-go with Zombieland is just how gory it is at times. It's not unwatchable gory (as some torture-porn films, like Hostel for example, are) but particularly toward the beginning, there are some eye-raising moments of splattered heads, gunshot wounds, and flesh-eating shown in all its bloody glory. It may be a bit too much for some people, especially if you weren't prepared for it, but it's not all the film is about, so you may want to grit your teeth and bear the gory moments (which really aren't all that prevalent) to appreciate all else it has to offer.

On top of the gore, the film also has tons of swearing peppered throughout its extensive scenes of witty dialogue. Even Columbus, the meek and geeky character, spouts the f-bomb left, right, and centre. But, as with the gore, it fits the film. In a world overrun by zombies, I'd think swearing would be automatic, wouldn't you?

The action here is surprisingly well done despite the fact it's not the primary goal of the film. Its main aim is to bring out the comedy in any and every moment it can, whether be verbal or physical, but the chase (which are sometimes hilariously shown in super slow-motion) and shoot-out scenes in particular are well done. The special effects (a mix of real make-up effects and, clearly, CGI) are also quite impressive, as completely over the top as they often are.

Unfortunately, Zombieland's narrative sometimes sags because of a certain attempt at throwing in a romance angle for Eisenberg's Columbus (all the characters are named after the place where they're heading) with one of the girls he and Harrelson's Tallahassee meet up with. It's not badly done, but it just doesn't fit with the rest of the film which, for the most part, moves along at a fast pace and comes in at a brisk 85 minutes in length (although the last 15 minutes or so could have been trimmed somewhat).

A structure introduced and held throughout the first half-hour of Zombieland is the "Rules of Survival" that Columbus has come up with. Rules such as "Cardio," "Beware of Bathrooms," and, "Don't Be a Hero" all make sure he doesn't end up as zombie food (or a "Manwich"as Tallahassee casually comments about a zombie feeding at the side of the road). It provides for some playful breaking of the fourth wall (of sorts) where the rules appear on the areas around them whenever a particular rule applies to the situation. It's hard to explain in words but in the film it works well as a sly "wink, wink" to the audience.

There's not much else to say about Zombieland — it is what it is. It's pretty obvious the kind of film it's going to be right off the bat, and if you aren't hooked in by the ads, then it's unlikely you'll enjoy the final product. But those of you who think the ads look hilarious and really entertaining have your expectations set at the right level. With a few nitpicks here and there, it delivers on what it promises to do (with a few neat surprises thrown in there for good measure, such as a special actor cameo, which I won't spoil) and that's all it needs to do. It won't be included in any all-time great lists, not even of the zombie horror sub-genre, but as an over-the-top and quite silly comedy/horror flick, it's a real blast

==Written by Ross Miller==

==From: Movie World (www.movie-world.moonfruit.com)==

If there's been a zombie apocalypse and you're road-tripping alone though the wasteland, you could do worse than run into Tallahassee (Woody Harrelson), a bourbon-swilling bad-boy butt-kicker with a really cool car. This is where the careful hero of Zombieland, a kid nicknamed Columbus (Jesse Eisenberg), finds himself early in the film, and you can hardly blame him for hitching a ride with this swaggering Alpha Male. Still, they have their hands full not only with gibbering zombies but also with two sisters (Emma Stone and Abigail Breslin) who will stop at nothing to reach a Disneyland-like amusement park in L.A. Although Zombieland gets off to a rocky start with Columbus's overly-cute narration (he's got a list of rules for surviving in the zombie world), it settles into an amusing comedy, regularly interrupted by bouts of blood-letting. The road-trip stuff is enough fun that when the movie does arrive at its version of Disneyland, the air goes out of it a little; sure, there's a giant zombie blowout, with entrails flying, but it's not quite the same. Director Ruben Fleischer keeps the gags coming, although the movie is often funnier in its odd little asides (both Eisenberg and Harrelson are expert at this) than in its official jokes. Comic high point: an interlude at the home of a very famous movie star, who plays himself--and we'll leave the spoiler unspoiled, in case anybody hasn't heard about this funny extended cameo. --Robert Horton