There was something special that was captured in the first Zombieland, Lightning in a bottle. Over ten years later Fleischer returns with the original cast and some new fantastic additions, Zombieland: Double Tap is a wickedly good film. Zoey Deutch steals the film, she never failed to crack the audience up.
After many successful years, the cast of the 2009 film are now ten years older and are ten years better. There is a natural transition in Double Tap, it’s as if we never have left Zombieland. That’s a testament to the film’s character building, acting and vision that takes what worked so well prior and elevates it to a film worthy of the first.
It’s been ten years of zombie hunting for Zombieland warriors Wichita (Emma Stone), Tallahassee (Woody Harrelson), Columbus (Jesse Eisenberg) and Little Rock (Abigail Breslin). Ten years later and the zombies have evolved, some are faster, smarter and are generally harder to kill, some are still just plain stupid. The team must still rely on smarts and weapons, but the biggest foe that lies in their way is adulthood, the growing up of Little Rock and the sudden leaving of her and a hippie guy.
Zombieland: Double Tap is hilarious, it is possibly the single funniest film out this year. The razer-sharp sense of humour the first delivered continues in a perfect way, however, there is a new entity of hilarity and that is Madison. Madison, played by Zoey Deutch, is an absolute gem – never failing to miss a beat, Deutch is incredible. She is stupendously dorky, quirky and adorably innocent, her relationship with Eisenberg is additionally a glorious pairing.
What makes this a worthy sequel is its character development. There is a clear progression in the original characters and the introduction of multiple new featuring characters never takes away from the originals. Double Tap has the same visual humour that Fleischer translates so perfectly, specifically this one scene on a run-down highway – but also, the on-screen lettering and how it interacts with the environment.
One flaw in Double Tap is the Little Rock story-line, she barely shows up. Everything surrounding her loss is great, that being with the original team and a few tag-a-longs. Little Rock feels a little under-developed and when she is inevitably found you are like, huh, I want to be with these other characters and turns out, not her? That’s because the focus and growth of the others is of vital featuring in Double Tap which perhaps neglects Breslin, yet, I’d argue it’s worth it as it’s a blast.
Zombieland: Double Tap is a wickedly fantastic ride. Absolutely hysterical, Zoey Deutch steals the show whilst Stone, Eisenberg and Harrelson are top-notch as per usual. Couldn’t stop smiling after Double Tap.
4/5 Stars ★★★★☆
Ben Rolph
