Directed By: Ruben Fleischer
Written By: Rhett Reese, Paul Wernick & Dave Callahan
Cinematography: Chung-Hoon Chung
Editor: Chris Patterson & Dirk Westervelt
Cast: Jesse Eisenberg, Woody Harrelson, Emma Stone, Abigail Breslin, Rosario Dawson, Luke Wilson, Thomas Middleditch, Zoey Deutch, Avan Jogia, Victoria Hall, Victor Rivera
A decade after their first adventure, the zombie-bashing team of Columbus, Tallahassee, Wichita, and Little Rock move to the American heartland. Here, they face off against evolved zombies, fellow survivors, and the growing pains of their own makeshift family.
Just like the first film, this isn’t really a horror film more like an action-comedy that has horrific elements or a more horror background.
This sequel definitely feels less than inspired as the main cast does come back for the sequel but throughout they all look disgruntled or miserable to be here. Even though one would like to think at least they would be back to enjoy each other's company, but it seems like everyone is more here for only here for a bigger paycheck.
The only time they seem genuinely like they like each other is in a moment towards the end when coming together in what looks like certain doom
Though this film Came about after a failed pilot for a Zombieland television series with a different cast. Which is where Even the parody or actors Luke Wilson and Thomas Middleditch playing bizarro
Versions of Woody Harrelson and Jesse Eisenberg’s character come off as cheap weak humor. Though seem like they would be the replacements of the actors either choose not to come back or the straight to streaming sequel or if they couldn’t have gotten the actors for the first film.
Woody Harrelson seems to be the only one here who seems to give a damn or bother showing any excitement. Maybe as he finally gets a love interest and not as lovey Dovey as Jesse Eisenberg’s romance from the first film.
Even though Abigail Breslin character goes on her own throughout the film And the characters are trying to find her. The film still gives her the least amount of screen time and attention as her character just seems to be going through a teenage rebellion.
The film pretty much continues the adventures of the characters and adds very little so that it would seem more of the same. Except at least in the first film the story seemed at least creative. Here it feels like the movie and script are running on fumes.
Zoey Deutch is a newcomer to the film franchise and provides the only distraction and is the only truly funny thing about the movie. As she brightens up her scenes as a dumb blonde stereotype. As she reminds me of Valeria Andrews character in the Ashton Kutcher movie JUST MARRIED where she was one of the truly bright spots of that movie and she only really had a few scenes.
Zoey Deutch does a lot of heavy lifting on her scenes and makes the film almost entertaining. Even though she supposed fate is telegraphed and predictable. When she is absent it Feels like they are struggling to come up with material as it goes along. Maybe an excuse to expose more of Eisenberg's Character's rules and theories. As well as expand them
The ending is pretty fun could have used that ingenuity earlier especially the credits sequence.
While watching this film I kept having thoughts just as I had when watching THE WALKING DEAD. How do they have power? Fireworks attract zombies but not lights? No defense against zombies except gates in this so-called Babylon. There is always a suspension of disbelief but one Shouldn’t be wondering these things as you are watching it, though the film does have it’s moments. Which are mostly stylistic. This seems to be one of the only ways the director seems to want to enliven the sequel and set it apart. As with each new film he makes even outside of the franchise usually has a few visually striking scenes where you can admit you have never seen that before.
Such as the fight within the Elvis HEARTBREAK HOTEL. Which is an action sequence that manages to feel epic in such a small amount fo space that seems to depend on excellent choreography. The other sequence is the ending when forced to fight an overabundance of zombies with no guns.
In the end, the sequel is a majorly disappointing feeling like it was made only because of demand not necessarily well thought out or organic.
Grade: D+
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