Zombieland (2009)

I was smiling before the titles started to roll. From the minute I got to hear about the rules of survival, I was already anticipating a slick, stylish experience. Okay, maybe Jesse Eisenburg was not the most obvious choice for Narrator, but still, it was necessary, under the circumstances.

Still, Zombieland sets out it's stall right from the getgo and even before minute one, you know this is going to be fun. Five minutes later, when Tallahassee (Harrelson) appears, you know it's going to be cool too.

Setting itself firmly in present day anytown America, the reluctant hero Columbus (Eisenburg) takes us on a whirlwind course on getting through the day in one piece. Practically everybody has turned into zombies and only a few hardy individuals remain, fighting the fight. It should be stated that this isn't a Resident Evil or anything like it. This is riotous, out-and-out funny and played completely for laughs.

Harrelson hasn't been this appealing since Natural Born Killers and is impeccably suited to this role. Not quite Mickey and Mallory here however, but the selfish, take-no-prisoners-and-do-it-with-style attitude is just the same. Eisenburg muddles his way through as a bumbling no-hoper with confidence issues, playing sidekick to Harrelson's gun-toting, zombie-killing freedom fighter, who has a penchant for Hummers and a past that will come back to haunt him in a moment of genuine sadness, which still seems to fit in amongst the chaos and carnage that's going on all around them.

The supporting cast, in the form of Abigail Breslin, Amber Heard, Emma Stone and a brilliantly observed cameo performance from Bill Murray all compliment the story admirably. The film looked like it was immense fun to make from the perspective of the performers and this makes the film just as enjoyable to sit through. If you can imagine 'Shaun of the Dead' as the king of comedy zombie movies, then Zombieland is it's loud, brash American bastard half cousin.

Great fun, but avoid showing it to the kids, as the gore level does get turned up right from the outset. For everyone else, a madcap, inventive and stylish hour and a half.