Reel Review: “Zombieland: Double Tap”

Those who have been highly anticipating the long-awaited “Zombieland” sequel should not be disappointed; everything still works the second time around.

Zombies. What can I say about zombies? Entertainment is saturated with zombies — and rarely with a new take. Zombieland was nothing different. Even adding humor, it’s really just about zombies. I mean, it’s in the title, right? But it was an enjoyable ride, and one that I didn’t mind taking again with Zombieland: Double Tap, the long awaited sequel to the 2009 cult hit.

What I like about Zombieland: Double Tap is it’s genuinely funny. That’s rare for me to say, because I am not a big fan of horror comedy. Some comedic relief is okay, but I want violence and gore. I want blood splatter dripping over everything. I want blood spray to the face, and drenching the clothes of those who are lucky enough to obliterate these walking dead. I like yelling “Yeah!” to an awesome kill.

And I get all of that with Double Tap.

Ten years after we last saw Columbus (Jesse Eisenberg), Tallahassee (Woody Harrelson), Wichita (Emma Stone), and Little Rock (Abigail Breslin), they are all playing house in the White House. The world is still overrun by the not so dearly departed. Twinkies are still a delicacy. The rules are still law, and Bill Murray is still a sore spot. Wichita and Little Rock are feeling stifled in life, and are longing to be on their own again.

After leaving the worst note ever written, they take off, leaving Columbus to blame himself for his beloved’s departure. In a comedic encounter at a nearby abandoned mall, Columbus and Tallahassee find themselves with a tag-along, the air headed valley girl Madison (Zoey Deutch), who has somehow stayed alive with a can of mace and a freezer refuge.

It’s not long before the inevitable happens.

I saw it coming from a mile away. Wichita returns. Little Rock has taken off with a hippie from Berkeley (Avan Jogia) who promises her paradise in Babylon. Initially wanting to steal some weapons and find her baby sister on her own, Wichita admits she needs help. The group embarks on a rescue mission to find the girl, and well, I already feel like I have given too much away.

But what ensues is hilarity that flows just right. I love the introduction of Nevada (Rosario Dawson), a loner living in an Elvis Presley themed motel, and kicking ass all on her own.

The film is loud, and that’s great. It needs to be.

This type of film cannot be done with a quiet score and talking with your inside voice.

Something that isn’t always seen with sequels, is two-thirds of the writers wrote the first Zombieland (Rhett Reese and Paul Wernick), along with the original director, Ruben Fleischer, which makes Zombieland: Double Tap consistent with the first one. I think that’s paramount to it being a success. There was just something about the humor and the stylized filming that needed to be duplicated to make this one work so well.

It’s a number of little things that could only be captured by those who are the most familiar with it, and who had a hand in it originally. And it works for this sequel. Watching it, it’s hard to believe that it’s been 10 years since we’d first met these characters.

If you’re a fan of the first one, you will most definitely love this one. Be sure to catch Zombieland: Double Tap, which is in theaters now. And be sure to stay for the credits!