I have been excited about this movie from the moment I heard the words “zombie” and “Woody Harrelson” in the same sentence.  I visited the site, I counted down the days, I even zombified my profile pic on Facebook.  And as the day of reckoning got closer I found it difficult to contain my excitement.  Eh, who am I kidding?  I never tried.  But then today, as the early viewers started reporting back, I began to hear some disturbing remarks.  Some said the jokes fell flat. Others said it was a disappointment.  There were complaints, albeit small ones, mixed in with the favorables.  My excitement bone started to get nervous.  But I would remind myself of these words:  “zombie” and “Woody Harrelson.”  Woody wouldn't let me down.  Then I saw it.

And I was right.  Sure there were some dry moments here and there but the payoff was more than worth it.  Zombie fans should be all over this flick.  I won't waste too much time waxing deep, cinematic experience.  That's not what Zombieland is about.  What it is about is four hapless survivors who find each other in a world where nothing really matters anymore.  The only things left to do are survive, kill bloodthirsty zombies with inventive weapons and search for the elusive Twinkie while trying to survive.  Yeah I said that part already but it bears repeating.  It's a hard knock life when the quick and the dead are on the prowl.  

Woody Harrelson is the balls-to-the-wall “Tallahassee.”  He is fearless, reckless, irreverent and pretty darned adorable.  His unlikely sidekick in all this business is “Columbus” played by Michael Cer...I mean Jesse Eisenberg (Adventureland and Cursed) with his most endearing stilted delivery for which he (and one other young actor) are currently famous.  Columbus is methodical, anal, and rather rule-heavy when it comes to survival but it is this attention to detail that has helped to keep him kicking in the midst of a world gone mad...for real mad.  Mad cow, mad.  Along the way they meet up with sisters, “Little Rock” (Abigail Breslin, all grown up from Little Miss Sunshine) and “Wichita” (Emma Stone of Drive and Superbad) who only trust each other and have nothing against taking opportunities as they present themselves.  

The majority of the film is spent on the road unloading lead.  Each character is headed where their name implies, except for the sisters who are are attempting to hit Pacific Playland outside LA which they've heard is the last zombie-free place in the country.  Along the way, we learn the rules of survival through the narration of Columbus and just to be helpful, they will pop up on screen here and there in case you forget what they are.  That pretty much sums it up.  Zombies, killing zombies, running from zombies, trickster movie star, more running, more killing, the end.  And it's fun.  

helpful, they will pop up on screen here and there in case you forget what they are.  That pretty much sums it up.  Zombies, killing zombies, running from zombies, trickster movie star, more running, more killing, the end.  And it's fun.  

While it's true that all the jokes don't hit hard, I found that if you walk into Zombieland expecting nothing but a good time, that is exactly what will be delivered. There isn't much plot to speak of.  I think you get the idea from everything I've said so far.  But when the blood goes flying with wild abandon, and in such humorous ways, who really cares?  Director Ruben Fleischer (perhaps more well known for his work on Jimmy Kimmel Live) takes all the tricks he's learned from action films, zombie films and comedies and rolls them all into one big ball of bloody, visceral, in-your-face, banjo-swingin' splatter.  Coming in at a mere 80 minutes, I was afraid it would seem too short.  But I was engaged along with the rest of audience and found that to be just right.  I really have nothing more to add.  But I've never been good with farewells so....that'll do, Pig.