Rules are important for any society. The rules help maintain a sense of order and keep things from descending into chaos. Sure, we might not like the rules from time to time, but they generally exist to make sure our lives are not a living hell of epic proportion. What happens, though, when society breaks down and crumbles into a million pieces? What happens when society descends into a literal zombie apocalypse? What use do rules have at that point? Well, according to “Zombieland”, the 2009 comedic take on the zombie genre from director Ruben Fleischer, rules play a very important part in surviving the wasteland that was once modern society. Those rules just happen to be things like “Cardio”, “Double tap”, and “Beware of bathrooms”, among others.

“Zombieland” opens with and focuses on the character of Columbus (Jesse Eisenberg), one of the remaining survivors of the film’s zombie apocalypse. He is quickly established as the film’s narrator and guides the audience through the rules of this world, rules that have contributed to his survival. Like other characters in the film, his name is the town where he’s from and is currently trying to get to while also avoiding all those pesky zombies. Along the way, he happens to come across the character of Tallahassee (Woody Harrelson), a confident loner in desperate search of a Twinkie while also harboring an intense grudge towards all things zombies due to the lost of his puppy, Buck. The two agree to work together while traveling on the same route back east towards their desired locations. Fleischer immediately takes delight in playing with the odd couple energy of Eisenberg’s neurotic traits and Harrelson’s cocksure confidence.

Columbus and Tallahassee soon find out they are not the only survivors along their path back east. The two unlikely partners happen upon the characters of Wichita (Emma Stone) and her younger sister Little Rock (Abigail Breslin). These siblings have survived the wasteland by trusting only each other and running cons whenever and wherever the situation might call for one. Wichita and Little Rock immediately con and take advantage of Columbus and Tallahassee, but the film wisely decides to put the four characters together after a short spell of mistrust. Columbus and Tallahassee agree to follow Wichita and Little Rock to Pacific Playland, an amusement park in Los Angeles that is supposed to be free of all things zombies.

That is the basic plot and structure of “Zombieland”. We meet the characters, they have a moment of mistrust, and then they pair up to get to the final destination and goal. The movie is structurally simple but structurally sound. There is no need for any bells and whistles when it comes to this portion of the story and script because the film’s genuine strength is the chemistry between the 4 members of the cast. Eisenberg, Harrelson, Stone, and Breslin all play so well with each other and in the different combinations the film puts them in throughout the 88 minute runtime. Tallahassee comes to begrudgingly accept Columbus and then has some really fun moments dealing with the youth of Little Rock’s character. Columbus seems to know Tallahassee is always moments away from snapping at his personality quirks and then fosters a growing romance that helps melt some of the icy facade Wichita has established for protection. “Zombieland” would not work at all if the chemistry between the cast was not at the levels shown on the screen.

The chemistry the cast shows with each other also translates to the sequence in the film where a very famous and hilarious cameo takes place. I will not spoil it here even though the movie has long since been released, but let me just say the set up and “execution” are perfect. Where as this portion of the film could have been seen as an unnecessary detour just for the sake of having a cameo, it actually works here for “Zombieland”. The sequence is ultimately hilarious but also allows for several key character development moments between the cast. Fleischer wonderfully juggles both concepts and gives the audience a delightfully memorable moment.

For a movie that takes so much time to establish the rules of the universe, it is only understandable and expected to see those rules subverted in the film’s climax and big showdown with a horde of zombies. Sometimes, when dealing with people that you love, rules need to get tossed out of the window. You need to improvise and take what the situation is giving you. “Zombieland” takes the elements of a zombie movie, plays within those parameters, and then turns them upside down at the right moment to provide for a really enjoyable conclusion and overall film experience.

This review is part of my From the Vault series showcasing movies of the past I have decided to visit or revisit and review.

Zombieland
(Ruben Fleischer, 2009)
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 1/2