Zombieland

Because it lacks a more robust framework, Zombieland starts and ends out of nowhere. But the characters are likeable and well directed, and the movie uses some very effective slow-motion shots. This is a pleasant chill-out movie, but Snyder’s Dawn of the Dead was bolder and more brutal, which pays off in the zombie sub-genre. (14/12/2009)

The first part had exactly the amount of rawness and blood that I had been longing for – it parodies the aesthetics of teenage horror and comedy, peppers one-liners one after another and culminates with a famous cameo by Bill Murray, which is destined to be a cult cameo. Unfortunately, any and all invention is lost thereafter and Zombieland starts to lose its way and the banal finale cannot improve on the lost tempo. Suddenly, what was parodied before is now part of the film, as well as awkwardness and implausibility. We also have the fat redneck Harrelson, who saves the ship from completely hitting the rocks and sinking. Partial elements of Zombieland are amongst the great representatives of horror comedy, but it's too bad that Fleischer et al. were unable to connect them into a meaningful whole. In fact, it’s too bad that they even tried. Because they deserve a smack on the head for the family ending. (19/11/2009)

While I understand the overseas acclaim, I refuse to join in. In fact, Zombieland runs at about half throttle when it could easily push the pedal through the floor for 85 minutes. Ideas from the black humor barrel are piled on during the opening credits meaning that essentially nothing happens for an hour, and then they arrive at B. M. and then at the amusement park. Every now and then pop culture is mentioned (Facebook, actors, movies), and sometimes it switches to video game mode (the roller coaster ride is a "Painkiller" DLC), but rarely does something ball-busting pop up that would stay in my mind forever and make me want to watch this again... for that, all I need is the trailer. PS: Woody Harrelson is one of the absolute best guys of the year, no question about it. (03/11/2009)

The brilliant British Shaun of the Dead remains unsurpassed. However, Zombieland can be described as a pleasantly silly and at the same time mainly entertaining film with a reasonable runtime, which has good ideas and is adorned with the excellent (certainly not small) role of Bill Murray. However, the traditionally unsympathetic Eisenberg deserves to be eaten and spat out in the first minute. (09/04/2011)

Likeable main protagonists, a ton of laughs and eye-candy slow motion splattering blood. What more could one ask for? Woody Harrelson is awesome and Jesse Eisenberg was a very pleasant surprise. The zombies here aren’t spooky, so no horror, but maybe comedy of the year. You must learn to appreciate the simple things in life. (01/12/2009)