Movie Review: Zombieland: Double Tap (2019)

Zombieland: Double Tap (2019) directed by Ruben Fleischer

A decade later, the impromptu family formed in Zombieland is still together: father-figure Tallahassee (Woody Harrelson), family-nerd Columbus (Jesse Eisenberg), big-sister Wichita (Emma Stone), and little-sister Little Rock (Abigail Breslin). They've moved into the White House where they enjoy all the amenities, including using portraits of lesser-known presidents as Christmas wrapping paper. Family strife eventually breaks out: Tallahassee is too overbearing for Little Rock (who wants to be treated like the adult she is) and Wichita is upset when Columbus proposes to her. The ladies write a brief note and leave in Tallahasee's Mad Max-style roadster. To console themselves, Tallahassee and Columbus go to the mall where they find Madison (Zoey Deutch), a flighty blonde who has survived by hiding in the ice-cream store's freezer. Columbus latches on to her as a rebound from Wichita and takes her back to the Lincoln bedroom, if you know what I mean. The next day Wichita comes back because Little Rock has run off with a hippy named Berkeley (Avan Jogia). The whole gang goes after Little Rock to save her from a fate worse than living death.

The original Zombieland had lots of laughs, surprises, and heart. This movie continues the theme of caring for others even when you don't see eye-to-eye with them, though it feels less resonant than last time around. This movie does deliver surprises as they go on their long road trip to find Little Rock. The movie also delivers the laughs, with plenty of good, clean and not-so-clean jokes. It is a zombie film, so there's bound to be messy bits. The filmmakers do a great job using the "rules" of Columbus as part of the storytelling (like the first film) with some fun new additions. The voice-over by Columbus works well again in this film.

If you enjoyed the first Zombieland, you will definitely enjoy this one. It's like catching up with old friends who have hardly changed.

Recommended, highly for fans of the original.