When Little Rock runs off with a guy, Columbus, Tallahassee, and
Wichita head to Graceland to track her down and bring her home. COMEDY/HORROR
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Zombieland: Double Tap (2019)Directed by Ruben Fleischer
Written by Dave Callaham, Rhett Reese, Paul Wernick Starring Jesse Eisenberg, Woody Harrelson, Emma Stone, Abigail Breslin, Zoey Deutch, Rosario Dawson, Avan Jogia, Luke Wilson, Thomas Middleditch Sequel to 2009's Zombieland |
I expected a sequel to Zombieland sometime around 2010 or 2011. When it never came, I assumed interest had died off, and the film was gonna be a one-off cult classic. Then, when they announced a belated sequel a decade later, I had reservations. I'm not a fan of belated sequels, as they nearly always miss the mark and end up being a rehash of the first film but never as good. But Zombieland: Double Tap is something special. This film celebrates the crazy post-apocalyptic America of Zombieland while fully embracing the series' cheesy as fuck nature and flawless chemistry among the four leads. This sequel is just as good as the first one, and even better in some ways.
It's cool to see Eisenberg, Harrelson, Stone, and Breslin all return and not skip a beat in dropping into their hilarious characters. We get to see a lot of more of the film's world, including the White House and Graceland, among other places. The script is hilarious and the additions of great new characters like Madison (Zoey Deutch), Nevada (Rosario Dawson), Albuquerque (Luke Wilson), and Flagstaff (Thomas Middleditch) all make for great interactions with our heroes. We also get to see a hippie commune called Babylon where everyone's a pacifist, and thus woefully unprepared for a zombie attack. There's just so much to like about this film, and I'm so happy it wasn't a dud. Zombieland: Double Tap is a fantastic sequel that never falters and lives up to the first film in the best possible ways. The story is simple but effective, and I've no doubt this one will go on to celebrate the same cult status as the first film. There were so many ways this film could've gone off the rails and been a massive disappointment, but thanks to a great script and a dedicated cast, it's a solid win. |
Ten years ago, we got the surprise hit that was Zombieland. It was a hilarious movie which starred a bunch of relatively unknown at the time actors mixed with established actor Woody Harrelson. It also came out right before we would experience an over saturation of zombies in media. Since its release, numerous zombie media would come out to the point of annoyance for many. All four main characters would also go on to bigger success and become household names. As the years went on, the idea of a sequel seemed to be just that. An idea which would never happened. But, ten years and a reunited cast have brought us Zombieland: Double Tap. So how does this long delayed sequel stand up?
Right off the bat, the cast nails it. After such a long wait, there was a fear the chemistry may not work like it did the first time. But, they quickly put that fear aside as each of them seamlessly fall back into their respective characters. Harrelson and Eisenberg, in particular, continue to play extraordinarily well off each and provide many of the more humorous moments. The new cast doesn’t drag their feet either. Luke Wilson and Thomas Middleditch share a particular standout sequence with our main characters. Zoey Deutch may just be this film’s MVP. She had me laughing anytime she was onscreen. None of this would work, though, without the original creators involved. And, thankfully, they are. Both the returning director and writers do a fantastic job of bringing this world back to life and providing numerous references to the original. The only real negative to me with this film is that it’s not as funny as the original. While not as funny as the first one, Double Tap largely succeeds to a very committed returning cast and creators. The new additions help a lot too. I’ve waited ten long years for a sequel to Zombieland and this one does not disappoint. Let’s just hope if they decide to make a third one, we don’t have to wait another ten years. With that, it’s time to nut up or shut up. |