Zombieland – Double Tap

Following on from the events of the original ‘Zombieland’, Tallahassee (Woody Harrelson), Columbus (Jesse Eisenberg), Little Rock (Abigail Breslin) and Wichita (Emma Stone) are living it up at the White House. Safely ensconced inside and fully adept at dealing with whatever zombies that stray onto the presidential porch, the group would seem settled. However, whereas Columbus and Wichita have each other and Tallahassee is wedded to his welding, Little Rock‘s attentions have started to wander…

… ‘Zombieland: Double Tap’ is neither here for the money nor a stumbling re-tread.

Following on from the events of the original ‘Zombieland’, Tallahassee (Woody Harrelson), Columbus (Jesse Eisenberg), Little Rock (Abigail Breslin) and Wichita (Emma Stone) are living it up at the White House. Safely ensconced inside and fully adept at dealing with whatever zombies that stray onto the presidential porch, the group would seem settled. However, whereas Columbus and Wichita have each other and Tallahassee is wedded to his welding, Little Rock‘s attentions have started to wander…

With this sequel coming out so late compared to the 2009 original, it seemed that the dawn of ‘Zombieland: Double Tap’ was already dead on arrival. In a cultural landscape that has already been ravaged by the likes of ‘The Walking Dead’ and others, the zombie horde of fascination that ‘Zombieland’ helped usher in, would seem to have already passed it by.

That all said, ‘Zombieland: Double Tap’ is neither here for the money nor a stumbling re-tread. How does it do this? By not having a plot in the first place. Normally the spinal column for any decent movie, ‘Zombieland: Double Tap’ is indifferent to any normal considerations and happy to lurch from one scene to another. Relying on the sinewy, connective tissue of its central characters’ appeal, this late sequel to the zombie party is reasonably entertaining in its refusal to play the franchise game.

You’ll laugh out loud at the new jokes and groan at some of the older devices but nothing ever stays on screen long enough to cause actual damage. You see, ‘Zombieland: Double Tap’ is a ‘zombie movie’. It endures on account of its deceased intentions. Throwing as many limbs at you that as it can muster, some ideas catch you whilst others pass you by. The most regrettable body part on offer is the meta arrival of Luke Wilson and Thomas Middleditch. Whilst their humourless offence definitely warrants cutting off, it does not mortally damage a plot that cannot die, having never having felt the breath of life in the first place.

More like ‘Frankenstein’ in its assemblage, ‘Zombieland: Double Tap’ neither drowns your expectations nor brings anything fresh to the surface. You won’t remember the movie but it’s a sequel where you’ll remember the scenes. Or at least those that worked.