Zombieland: Double Tap (2019)
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Zombieland: Double Tap Movie Review
Zombieland: Double Tap is a 2019 zombie comedy film directed by Ruben Fleischer and starring Woody Harrelson, Emma Stone, Jesse Eisenberg and Zoey Deutch. It’s a strong sequel.
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“I have nothing against hippies,
I just wanna beat the shit out of ’em“
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The film’s outline very much plays like most sequels would – it introduces many new characters, and an even bigger threat than before. In both areas, it was done for worse more than for better. Most of those characters are great, but too brief in screen time, and ultimately the film felt overcrowded. As for the latter cliché, obviously it led to more danger and better action, but otherwise it felt typical and forced.
Then why is it that I personally prefer this movie over the original? Well, both are of similar quality, but this one was more entertaining to me simply because it was also much funnier. The humor here is excellent, many characters get their proper due, and I found the film’s willingness to focus on humor and fun situations more than zombie action phenomenal.
Woody Harrelson is once again terrific. He got to have a lot of fun, especially in his Elvis outfit, but also his relationship with Abigail Breslin’s character is excellent, though she wasn’t as memorable and was reduced to a very annoying, standard hippie character and subplot.
Emma Stone and Jesse Eisenberg are both excellent, I liked their relationship, and I found them both very likable and realistic. It is wonderful that Stone got back to film this sequel despite winning an Oscar, that was great from her. And Eisenberg is very amusing in his geek tendencies.
Rosario Dawson isn’t all that memorable, but she did share some very nice scenes with Harrelson. I also loved the scenes with Thomas Middleditch and Luke Wilson, both very similar to the main duo, and thus that situational comedy that arose was excellent.
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But easily the highlight of Zombieland: Double Tap is Zoey Deutch. She plays Madison – a ditzy, but incredibly sympathetic, immensely cute girl who is difficult not to love. She got the best lines, and she brought a lot of energy and playfulness to the movie that I wanted much more from her. Again, there are too many characters in here. But the pacing is mostly good as is the action, though the final act is too overwhelming in that area. The soundtrack is once again annoying.
Zombieland: Double Tap does the clichéd thing for sequels – it introduces way too many new characters, and it presents much bigger stakes in that overwhelming third act. However, the movie is still of the similar quality as its predecessor, and to me it was more entertaining simply because the humor is much better. The main cast all got a moment to shine, there were many very funny scenarios throughout and the standout is Zoey Deutch – her ditzy, incredibly adorable Madison stole every scene she was in.
