Review: Zombieland: Double Tap Was Worth The 10-Year Wait.
Zombieland: Double Tap picks up ten years after the original, opening with Tallahassee (Woody Harrelson), Columbus (Jesse Eisenberg), Wichita (Emma Stone), and Little Rock (Abigail Breslin) residing in the White House. Little Rock, who is now a teenager, dreams of “leaving the nest” and finding herself a boyfriend. Following a series of events, Wichita and Little Rock decide to leave Columbus and Tallahassee behind, with the hopes of living a more fulfilling life.
There is plenty more to unpack, but if you are interested in seeing this film, I highly recommend going into it as blind as possible. It will be all the more enjoyable to discover for yourself that way. A lot of surprises are in store for the audience, including a few cameos beware of spoilers on your way back to Z-Land.
That said, Zombieland: Double Tap is a twisted blend of horror and comedy that stays true to the spirit of the original. Having Breslin, Stone, Eisenberg, and Harrelson all back is a huge win for the film, as they are clearly having the time of their lives here. It honestly feels like no time has passed, given how naturally this cast seems to have slid back into their roles. As a viewer, it feels like you are just catching up with old friends, which says a lot about not only the performances but the script as well.
I love how Tallahassee, Columbus, Wichita, and Little Rock have not changed at all in ten years and how it ties directly into the plot. This is a road-trip comedy about four friends who are forced to change after leaving their comfort zone. Again, not to go into too much detail, but the setup involves the yearning for change, as well as the fear of it.
Writers Dave Callaham, Rhett Reese, and Paul Wernick knew precisely what they were doing here. They knew it was best not to change what audiences loved about the original, so they upped the ante in terms of the rules, characters, violence, and zombies. The zombies now have names, and there is even a new breed that may or may not have a nickname referencing a very popular movie franchise from the 80s.
The new characters add to the fun and offer a lot of laughs as well. Luke Wilson and Thomas Middleditch are hilarious as this odd pair who are quite similar to Tallahassee and Columbus. A scene where Middleditch and Eisenberg start comparing their rules to one another was hilarious.
Rosario Dawson’s Nevada is a good addition too, but her role was very predictable. You sort of know why her character is there and what her purpose will likely be. Additionally, Avan Jogia‘s Berkeley was also very amusing as a stereotypical, music-loving hippie.
Out of the entire cast, it is Zoey Deutch who steals every scene she’s in. Her character Madison should not work but does thanks to Deutch’s comedic timing and the hilarious dialogue. I busted out laughing at many of Madison’s scenes, but a scene where she describes rideshare services made me laugh harder than anything else this year.
While I did enjoy Zombieland: Double Tap, I have to admit a lot of it does feel like déjà vu. While I wasn’t bothered by it, I do think that those who weren’t big fans of the original won’t find much about this new one to appreciate. At the same time, if you haven’t seen the original, I wouldn’t say it’s entirely necessary to have seen it to enjoy this sequel.
Zombieland: Double Tap is a bloody blast that recreates the same magic of the original. It is the type of comedy we just don’t see that much of anymore. It works on so many levels because the script is smart and hilarious, but also because the entire cast is excellent. This is the horror-comedy of the year and should be seen with a bunch of friends or in a theater with a crowd.
