Zombieland: Double Tap

The original Zombieland is one I didn't catch in theaters right away but eventually caught up with later and really enjoyed. 

It certainly garnered a...sure..."cult" following over the years (albeit a small one it would seem) to warrant a sequel. Now a Zombieland follow up in 2019 features a cast with a lot more mileage on them, in a good way. 

You've got Woody Harrelson who seems to have been in just about everything in the last 10 years. Emma Stone who's career has taken off and was in one of my favorite movies of the last decade. Jesse Eisenberg who has gone on to continue to be insufferable to me in nearly every role except this one. And...Abigail Breslin who, well, hasn't done all that much of note. 

It's the case of a series starting with budding-ish stars and having the lucky ability to reign them in for a sequel that suddenly has quite a lot of star power. There's just something gleefully entertaining about seeing Emma Stone fire a grenade launcher at the undead. She's not above it, ya know? 

Zombieland: Double Tap, probably wisely, doesn't set out to be all that ambitious. In what's now become an insanely crowded zombie marketplace and one where they heyday has arguably passed - just look at The Walking Dead's ratings for that - it knows what it's good at and what people are turning up to see. Expecting anything more would seem misguided, but you also expect there to be that smooth sense of entertainment you got from the first. 

In that regard, Double Tap is just about perfect. No, it's not going to get a perfect score, but in a world where some sequels can massively disappoint, this is one that fits the bill and should meet most people expectations of it. My full Thursday crowd sure seemed happy and entertained. 

Hilarious in nearly every scene she's in

With that approach however, it becomes apparent that Double Tap has little ambition in most departments. That's largely ok, mainly because the movie is only a tad over the 90 minute mark, but it also means that there's not much plot here other than checking in on the gang. Sure there's some relationship growth and some new characters, but there's also no "Hey, we found a cure!" or "We've now got a human camp that we're fighting against." I certainly didn't expect that, but the result means the film tends to meander and have some tangents that, while entertaining, are often unnecessary. 

Ultimately you're at Zombieland for zombie killing and some laughs with our friends. In that regards, Double Tap delivers in spades, though I have a sneaking suspicion that it wouldn't have great longevity over multiple viewings. But for a first viewing, it's quick, consistently hilarious, and features plenty of zombie gore. The latter is the part that's probably aged the worst in the last 10 years when everything was having zombie craze. Something as shocking as curb stomping a zombie with brains and skull splatter doesn't quite have the same effect now that we've seen it over the course of several different mediums, shows, movies, etc. But hey, it's still cool and funny to have creative zombie kills of which there are a few throughout.

This cast remains really fun too, and is the key reason that the humor really shines. Harrelson is a caricature of himself (likely) and his curse-laden reactions get some laughs. Eisenberg is enjoyable (gasp!) and gets good mileage from his "rule" humor. Stone has wit and sarcasm and...well...Breslin kind of doesn't do all that much. The group's banter is enjoyable and fires fast but the film really ups the laughs when new blood is introduced. Zoey Deutch is downright hilarious as Madison, a bimbo blonde who's knack for survival is also funny. She brings a lot of energy to the film and offers up a lot of material for the group. Similarly, a short stint with Luke Wilson and Thomas Middleditch proves entertaining, particularly the play between Eisenberg and Middleditch's similar characters. 

"Nut up or shut up!" Part Deux

For at least a first viewing, Double Tap remains right in line with the first film and provides plenty of humor, zombie killing, and time with this character group. How it ages if I ever get around to watching it multiple times, I'm not sure, but in a post-zombie-saturation 2019, Zombieland proves it still has enough to distinguish itself from the back and entertain us. 

CONS

• Certainly not an ambitious sequel. Wants to maintain status quo
• Meanders with the plot and acts more as a "check-in" on these characters
• Handful of joke segments go too long
• Not the film's fault, but the zombie genre has gotten a lot of mileage in the 10 years it's been away

PROS

• Short and sweet
• Highly enjoyable cast that seems excited to be back in these roles
• Lots of worthwhile new blood. Zoey Deutch in particular is hilarious in nearly every scene
• Witty, quick humor that is consistent throughout
• Plenty of zombie gore with some fun moments/deaths
• Entertaining, even if not the much here is "new"

Rath's Review Score | 7.5/10