Zombieland: Double Tap

Can you believe it was back in 2009 when Zombieland first hit our screens? Not exactly an instant hit it did go on to be a cult classic, well, bigger than cult, and now the gang are back for number two.

Everyone returns: Woody Harrelson (“The Highwaymen“, “Venom“), Jesse Eisenberg (“The Art Of Self-Defense“, “Justice League“), Emma Stone (“The Favourite“, “La La Land“) and Abigail Breslin (“Little Miss Sunshine”, “Signs”).

Even the writing duo of Rhett Reese and Paul Wernick (“Deadpool”, “Deadpool 2“) plus director Ruben Fleischer (“Venom“, “Gangster Squad”) return with Dave Callaham (“The Expendables”, “Godzilla”) joining Reese and Wernick on writing duties.

It’s Breslin who causes all the bother this time round. She’s feeling stifled by Tallahassee (Harrelson) and wants to find people of her own age, see the world, instead of being stuck in the White House where the quartet have made home.

When Columbus (Eisenberg) proposes to Wichita (Stone), she freaks and runs off with Little Rock (Breslin). On the road they meet Berkeley, Avan Jogia (“Shaft”, “Now Apocalypse (TV)”), a guitar playing pacifist who Little Rock takes off with, leaving Wichita to head home with her tail between her legs.

On arrival she finds that Columbus has met someone new: Madison, Zoey Deutch (“The Disaster Artist“, “The Amazing Spider-Man“), who isn’t the brightest spark.

On learning of Little Rock’s adventures, Tallahassee freaks, and they all gather their stuff and hit the road to find her. Along the way they meet Nevada, Rosario Dawson (“Daredevil (TV)”, “The Lego Batman Movie“), Alburquerque, Luke Wilson (“Rock Dog“, “The Royal Tenenbaums”), Flagstaff, Thomas Middleditch (“Silicon Valley (TV)”, “Godzilla: King Of The Monsters“), a whole heap of new zombies and a hippy commune that doesn’t allow guns.

The first Zombieland was a lot of fun whilst being well thought out and a good mix of people. From the nervous and rule-making Eisenberg to the hard-nosed and all-in Harrelson, with Stone and Breslin being in between.

The chemistry worked and so did the storyline. That they’ve managed to keep everyone involved is testament to the producers and the introduction of a few new people, well, that was always likely.

Zombieland: Double Tap doesn’t quite work the same as the first one. It doesn’t feel as fresh or as funny, which is part and parcel of a sequel, I guess. It’s not that it’s not funny, it is, it’s a good, fun movie with plenty of laughs and kills, it just doesn’t quite live up to number one.

Those of you who remember the first one and that cameo, you know the one, Mr Murray. Well, naturally, he’s back, but you have to wait until the final credits before you see him but it is well worth hanging around for.

Zombieland: Double Tap is a lot of fun. It’s bloody, there’s guns, cars, humour and zombies. It’s not too long, there’s even a monster truck in it. What more could you want?