Zombieland: Double Tap

“When you love something, you shot it in the face so it doesn’t become a flesh eating monster.”

Filmology Rating: 2.5 out of 4

‘Zombieland: Double Tap’ is the sequel to 'Zombieland', ten years afterward. Ruben Fleischer returns to direct as well as the core four.

After ten years of being a cobbled-up family, Tallahassee, Columbus, Little Rock, and Wichita find themselves in new interpersonal conflict as times begin to change.

Similar to 'Day of the Dead', it was mentioned that every zombie/survival film must have interpersonal conflict or else the film will be boring. This film does a good enough job at presenting enough for each character to do, but for the most part.

It being a zombie/comedy film, the comedic aspect should be addressed. Seeing that comedy has fallen flat on its face from films like 'Jexi', it was refreshing to see a film that isn't from Marvel that actually had smart and well thought-out comedic moments, timing, and editing. It passed the laugh test of getting at least six. The film is well worth it from a comedy perspective that plays on both references, in-jokes, and well set-up and pay-off jokes.

The issue with the film comes from a lack of overall focus. Mentioned earlier, there is something for the main four characters to do throughout the film, but a lot of which is very underdeveloped. Little Rock has this teenage adventure in the middle of the film and it feels like an excuse to get rid of that character. Tallahassee has a father/daughter relationship with Little Rock, which I didn't even realize that it was an actual subplot until the end of the film. Also with Tallahassee is a romantic subplot which felt very much like a "we need to give him something more to do" subplot.

The main dramatic aspect is a love triangle, but more so a commitment issue between Columbus and Wichita. They often have lots of good banter that result in a subtle kind of witty comedy, which avoids that "big emotional scene" cliche, thankfully. But the other side of this strange romantic subplot is Madison. She is very much the dull-blonde stereotype, which was handled rather effectively. I saw lots of Willie from 'Temple of Doom' in this film. But she is also a character who seemed to be crowding the main dramatic stage, though she was funny.

There is also an additional few characters who appear near the middle of the film who serve absolutely zero function in the plot other than a quick gag and an impressive "one-shot"- probably some hidden cuts.

The entire third act also felt too similar to the end of 'Army of Darkness.' A vehicle in particular really gave the homage/inspiration away. While that may be a homage, we also see many clothing references to 'The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly' because why not.

I also found this film to be very obvious. In the first 'Zombieland', though, it was predictable, there were still some fulfilling surprises by the end. While in 'Zombieland: Double Tap' everything felt too obvious.

Though it was a thoroughly entertaining and side-splitting him that both satirizes and makes fun of its own genre, I find the dramatic elements very slack with a second half that isn't quite sure where to focus. Regardless, a fun time at the movies.

Rating: Rent It

-Nolan