3 out of 5 stars
Calling all Zombieland fans; this film is for all of those who loved the original. Over the past decade, since it's release, zombies have become all-pervasive throughout the media. Television, cinemas and video games are all inhabited by the undead but despite its cult following will this next chapter of this post-apocalyptic America offer anything new to the zombie narrative?
In the past decade, Tallahassee (Woody Harrelson), Columbus (Jesse Eisenberg), Wichita (Emma Stone), and Little Rock (Abigail Breslin) have become experts in surviving and identifying the various types of zombies. They travel across the United States scrounging for food, protection and loads of weapons. The fab four decide to make their way to the ultimate inhabitance at the White House. Even though they have survived in this world and reside in style, there are fractures forming amongst the team. Little Rock is hoping to find someone who is more her age and Wichita is uncomfortable with how Columbus wants to take their relationship to the next level.
Everyone is back for the latest instalment of this comedic / zombie franchise and throughout the decade things have grown. The zombies have evolved, the guns are more brutal and as the team travels across the country, new members join in the adventure. The first new member is Madison (Zoey Deutch), who is discovered in the local shopping mall where she has survived in a restaurant freezer. While Berkeley (Avan Jogia) manages to fill the void of love and conversation for Little Rock. These new members become part of the road trip that occurs as the team searches for one another and their journey leads them to the utopian society of Babylon.
To make the reunion complete, the production team that introduced this unique world to audiences over a decade ago joins the returning cast. The writing team honours the style and traditions of the first chapter and deliver comfort for fans in knowing everything they loved about this zombie-filled universe is back with a vengeance. The script relies on a suspension of disbelief on the practicalities of this post-apocalyptic existence. With a complete collapse of society, the team is free to roam the country with no concern of petrol, ammunition or food needs.
With all of the changes that have occurred in the industry over the past decade, the production team answers these shifts in society by going big. The violence is intense, the jokes are for insiders and the team doubles, even to the point of including doppelgängers to make things interesting. Devotees will wrap this film around them like their favourite blanket covered in zombie brains.
Everything that is new is merely reanimated from the original screenplay. Which meant that watching the original film is required for those who are just beginning the journey of Z-land. Double Tap is for those who have drunk deep from the well of first film and thirst for more. More zombies, more guns and more ridiculously fun shenanigans.
REEL DIALOGUE: How is it that a zombie film can get an audience thinking about the home and family?
From extreme love to exceptional frustration, parents, siblings and other key members of the family unit can be aware of more about our history than we may care to know. They are the people who can remind us of our successes and our failures at the same moment just by being in the room. Our family can cause a bittersweetness in life by being both encouraging and painful at the same time.
Interestingly, the God of the Bible had the best of intentions for our home life from the beginning of time. The original goal was for families to live as a cohesive unit that works together by celebrating and utilising the various gifts that each member provides.
Even though this reality is not true in many people's lives, it does not mean that we can not try to reflect that reality now. Within this fallen existence, family members can strive to encourage each other. We need to be encouraging each other when times are tough, cheering for one another when life is going well and speaking the truth when our family needs it most.
‘Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonour others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.’ 1 Corinthians 13:4-7
