Zombieland: Double Tap (2019)

Directed by: Ruben Fleischer | 99 minutes | action, comedy | Actors: Woody Harrelson, Jesse Eisenberg, Emma Stone, Abigail Breslin, Zoey Deutch, Avan Jogia, Rosario Dawson, Luke Wilson, Thomas Middleditch, Victoria Hall, Victor Rivera, Ian Gregg, Devin Mojica, Rachel Luttrell, John Dixon, Ronny Mathew, Jess Durham

Ten years after the pleasant and at times very entertaining ‘Zombieland’, we are reunited with the zombie-fighting foursome Columbus (Jesse Eisenberg), Tallahassee (Woody Harrelson), Wichita (Emma Stone) and Little Rock (Abigail Breslin) that in the original from a lot of viewers. The opening scenes of ‘Zombieland: Double Tap’ quickly make it clear what to expect: a lot of action, attacking undead and the necessary gore, topped with a humorous sauce that excels in simplicity and wit.

Even more so than its predecessor, ‘Zombieland: Double Tap’ is a parody of the zombie genre, arguably one of the most starved movie concepts on the planet. It’s not for nothing that Columbus opens with the following words: “You have many options when it comes to zombie entertainment. Thank you for choosing us.” This not devoid of satire already indicates that the film does not take itself and the entire zombie genre very seriously.

There is little new under the sun when it comes to character. Columbus is still the intelligent, but somewhat wimpy and socially inept nerd, while Woody Harrelson remains perfectly in place as the tough, but sensitive (rough-shoulder type, white spunk type) cowboy Tallahassee. Wichita is now Columbus’s regular girlfriend, but still the tough chick from part 1 who understands the art of killing the zombie hordes roaming the US in various ways. Only her younger sister Little Rock no longer fits the familiar picture. She has a strong urge to leave the nest that has become her dysfunctional ‘family’. Ready to spread her wings, Little Rock ventures into the wide world alone, eventually leading her to find herself in a hippie commune. In addition, we are introduced to a new zombie species. The ones called ‘terminators’ by Columbus are faster and stronger than their ‘normal’ counterparts and therefore a lot more difficult to take out. For example, they can take an impressive number of bullets before finally demise.

‘Zombieland: Double Tap’ therefore largely draws from the same vein as the first release in this franchise, albeit that this second part is just a bit more action-packed, excessive and self-aware. Like ‘Zombieland’, ‘Zombieland: Double Tap’ lives mainly on the interactions and chemistry between the four main protagonists. Strong gore gags, references to other films/popular cultural phenomena and spicy one-liners regularly put a smile on your face, especially because you see that the actors visibly enjoy their roles. The makers also inject the film with a strong dose of social satire. In particular, the archetypal rednecks and naive hippies tearing around in monster trucks are being ridiculed. Stupid girl-girl Madison, an incarnate parody of the type of teenage girl that populates the average MTV reality show, is also a nice addition to the character ensemble.

Fans of the first part will undoubtedly enjoy watching ‘Zombieland: Double Tap’ as well. The characters remain interesting and likeable, while the action scenes are entertaining, intense and exuberant. The humor consists of a well-thought-out mix of subtlety and flatness. On the other hand, the film relies heavily on fan service and in terms of story and new input, which has little meat on the bones. A more than acceptable follow-up film, although the question is whether there is still enough in the creative barrel for a strong third part.