Today’s quick review: Zombieland: Double Tap. After years of survival in the zombie-infested ruins of America, Columbus (Jesse Eisenberg) has decided to put down roots. Along with Tallahassee (Woody Harrelson), Wichita (Emma Stone), and Little Rock (Abigail Breslin), he sets about turning the White House into a permanent home. But when Little Rock runs off with a boy her age, the others must embark on a cross-country roadtrip to find her.
Zombieland: Double Tap is a zombie action comedy with colorful characters and a light tone. The sequel picks up years after the events of Zombieland, when Columbus and his friends have mastered the zombie apocalypse and are looking to settle down. Double Tap holds much of the same appeal as the original, with an excellent cast, sharp writing, and a unique sense of humor. The one thing it’s missing, however, is the first film’s heart.
Double Tap runs on the same mixture of character-driven banter, cultural references, and zombie slapstick as the first film. The four returning cast members have great chemistry together, making even the film’s basic interactions a treat. They’re joined by a handful of newcomers who fit right in. The humor skews even more self-aware than in the original, but the writing is still sharp, the setting is still fun, and nearly all of the jokes land.
The catch is that Double Tap is even less grounded than its predecessor. Where the original Zombieland dealt with the collapse of civilization and its effect on the survivors, Double Tap treats its world as a playground. It emphasizes comedy and personal relationships almost to the exclusion of survival and deeper forms of drama. This leads to a lighter watch with plenty of opportunities for comedy, but with less nuance and emotional payoff.
Zombieland: Double Tap is a well-executed and thoroughly entertaining comedy that will appeal to a broad audience. The sequel is missing the subtler qualities of the first one, including its rich character arcs and sense of balance. But what it lacks in subtlety, it makes up for in raw comedy, making it a worthy successor to an excellent film. For more in the same vein, try the original Zombieland or Shaun of the Dead.
7.3 out of 10 on IMDB. I give it a 7.0 to 7.5 for great characters, fun comedy, and a dash of action.