Review: “Zombieland: Double Tap”, an outlandish action family movie

Posted on: December 1, 2019 Posted by: Stephanie Bui Comments: 1,053

“Zombieland: Double Tap” Film Review:

An Outlandish Action “Family” Movie

By QUYNH (STEPHANIE) BUI | December 1, 2019

After a 10-year hiatus, Zombieland made a grand return with their sequel, this time “double-tap.” Crazier action scenes, cheekier jokes, and creepier zombies: this movie has got it all.

Zombieland: Double Tap continues the story of Columbus (Jesse Eisenberg), Tallahassee (Woody Harrelson), Wichita (Emma Stone) and Little Rock (Abigail Breslin) after ten years of smashing zombies and surviving the apocalyptic universe. However, the dynamic of the gang has changed. Wichita is overwhelmed by her romantic relationship with Columbus, while Little Rock is irritated by Tallahassee’s overbearing protection. As these on-screen badasses attempt to mend their relationships and discover their unique definition of “family,” and “home,” they are also tasked with defending themselves against a new zombie species – stronger, faster, and thirstier for human flesh.

As a fervent fan of the first film, I tried to lower my expectations because I did not want to ruin my first Dutch cinema experience. Surprisingly, Zombieland: Double Tap still managed to preserve the thrills of its predecessor. The film’s spirit and energy were contagious – I laughed the entire time and heard the loudest laughter around me in the history of the world’s movie theaters. The film sparked so much joy and kept me entertained. Although the sequel centers around the characters’ acceptance of each others’ dissimilarities, this seemingly family-oriented film still maintains its adult elements. It’s what made me fall in love with Zombieland numero uno: ironic humor, casually breaking the fourth wall, overflowing sarcasm, excessive cursing, and some serious (and grotesque) zombie slaying.

Another aspect that elevated the first movie and brought it commercial success was the chemistry between the cast members. Zombieland: Double Tap wholeheartedly recreated that. The actors have articulately and effortlessly embraced their personas. It is hard to discern the line between their characters and real selves. Watching the second movie was truly nostalgic as us viewers observe these dysfunctional characters grow from being hostile strangers to becoming a family.

However, the movie is not faultless. The additional characters and the intertwining plotlines have made Zombieland: Double Tap slightly distracting. Although the scale of the film has enhanced, its flares have somewhat faltered. The producers have unquestionably taken a safe bet: they didn’t mess with the formula, didn’t reinvent it, and didn’t improve it either.

Therefore, it is natural for the public to perceive the movie as of less quality because even an iconic franchise like Zombieland couldn’t escape the “sequel curse.”

Although the film didn’t blow my mind, it is still wildly enjoyable, and I would happily watch it again in my own time. If you have not seen the first one, I highly recommend checking it out. Some tips before heading out to the cinemas: Don’t let the negative reviews dictate your film-watching choices and don’t try to attach profound meanings to the Zombieland series. It’s just fun and easy to watch, and that’s completely okay!

*Author’s note: Remember to stay for the credits – you’ll be taking a trip down memory lane to the first Zombieland.

Overall rating: 7/10

If you have watched “Zombieland 2: Double Tap”, share with us what you think about it on our Instagram and Facebook Page (@the.magazine.ams)

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