Zombieland: Double Tap
Saturday, October 19, 2019 at 9:29PM
by Michael Frank
Zombieland: Double Tap doesn’t waste time telling you that you’re watching a zombie movie. The Columbia Pictures logo comes to life, fighting off multiple would-be enemies, leading to a Deadpool-esque opening credits sequence. It’s not new by any means, but it reminds you why you like zombie movies in the first place: they’re fun as hell.
The rest of the film follows its opening: an enjoyable movie-going experience with a lack of plot, a lack of originality, yet just enough movie stars, inside jokes, and heart to make it worthwhile. Double Tap follows our leads from a decade earlier, Tallahassee (Woody Harrelson), Columbus (Jesse Eisenberg), Wichita (Emma Stone), and Little Rock (Abigail Breslin), as they traverse the new-look world that’s still full of zombies. The actors themselves have aged nicely as well, with Harrelson, Eisenberg, Stone, and Breslin all maintaining prolific and award-winning careers. If anything, they’re more likeable than they were 10 years ago, an difficult feat for a cast to pull off. They bring their full arsenal of charisma to their roles in Double Tap, giving generous performances to a film that cares more about its world than its characters...
So time is actually on the sequel’s side. Those of us that loved the first film, and haven’t seen it recently, still have a vague memory of why we liked it so much. We remember that Columbus has a set of rules, but we’ve forgotten the particulars. The new plot is a lazy river of sorts, following the current, not moving towards any real destination or logical conclusion. Unfortunately, the plot, or lack thereof, doesn’t do the actors any favors by depriving them of any emotional or dramatic scenes. The subplots aren’t servicing any main storyline.
Harrelson and Eisenberg’s chemistry is still winning, though, and director Ruben Fleischer gives their banter plenty of attention. Stone and Breslin are scarcely used, as they bolt within the first 15 minutes of the film, only to be roped back into the fold later with smaller roles. The real scene-stealer comes in the form of Madison (Zoey Deutch), a valley girl discovered in a mall freezer. Deutch injects life into the story just as it begins to feel overplayed, from her character’s nut allergy to her constant optimism and annoyance of Stone’s Wichita.
Though the script is slapdash, the jokes niche (Variety, Robin Rogers, Portishead, Bob Dylan), and the relationships underdevelped, Double Tap was somehow 10 years in the making. The fan service is only enjoyable up to a point and only memorable for its ridiculousness instead of its storytelling or Terminator-like zombies. But the cast is too good to dislike the film, and Zombieland: Double Tap knows it, leaning hard on their charm. A happy ending was bound to come with Harrelson saving the day and Eisenberg delivering his signature lines about how “home is really the people you’re with, not any one place”. It's more of a remake than a sequel but you might look at it fondly anyway.
The film might be forgettable, but certain scenes are absurdly hilarious. Woody Harrelson’s Elvis obsession and subsequent impersonation is golden. The scene with Luke Wilson mirroring Harrelson and Thomas Middleditch mirroring Eisenberg was fantastic, and impossible not to enjoy. The best moment comes after the credits, so stick around. A very special comedian makes a cameo, one that you’re waiting for throughout the entire film. It’s the most original and most hilarious part of the film. Wade through Double Tap with all of its guts, gore, and gimmicks, and the end result is just barely worth it, the high note hit, just as you’re leaving the theater.
Reader Comments (8)
" Stone and Breslin are scarcely used, as they bolt within the first 15 minutes of the film,"
Aww, man.
Poor Emma Stone. Choices are everything.
Every year I pride myself in missing all the Razzie nominees.
Zombieland is a guilty pleasure of mine, and since the original cast all returned, I took a chance on Zombieland 2 Double Tap. It's unspeakably stupid.
Damn! There goes my perfect score. I feel certain I've now seen a multiple nominee for the 2019 Razzies.
James: 1. Does that mean you missed Batman Begins in 2005? 2. Zombieland: Double Tap probably isn't showing up in a single category. 67% on Rotten Tomatoes? Yeah, no. At least...not on its own demerits. Maybe if Midway sucks AND Harrelson glaringly sucks IN IT (because Razzie still does that "cite everything you did that year" thing), it'll show up. But all that does is muddy the waters. Did you see...Glass? Serenity? Miss Bala? Hellboy 2019? The Curse of La Llorona? UglyDolls? The Hustle? The Professor? Dark Phoenix? Men In Black: International? Shaft? Jacob's Ladder 2019? The Goldfinch? Rambo: Last Blood? Gemini Man? If you can say no to all of these, I think you're safe.
Volagia dear,
I most certainly miss anything with Katie Holmes. Ugh! Unfortunately, I did err most recently in 2010, foolishly indulged my affection for Kim Cattrall, and saw Sex and The City 2, a most deservedly disappointment recognized by the Razzies.
As for this year, even if I can avoid seeing all the Razzie nominated fare, I will never get back those 99 minutes spent slumped in my theater seat numbly enduring Zombieland: Double Tap.
Seriously my dear Miss Stone- you are an Oscar winner !
I was not into this, as I never saw Zombieland, but I need to know more about the Portishead joke - I will definitely watch this on streaming for a Portishead joke, especially if it's not deregatory towards them. (I love Portishead, you guys).
What portishead song was playing in zombieland: double tap?