Film review: "Return to Zombieland", a rather successful sequel
30.10.2019
Translation: machine translated
The first film became a cult hit. Ten years later, the sequel is finally out. Return to Zombieland" may not be original, but it doesn't commit any major blunders, and is even genuinely funny at times.
For starters, this article contains no spoilers. I will limit myself to what the official trailers have already revealed. The two video clips after the trailer are from the first film.
Ten years have passed since Columbus (Jesse Eisenberg), Tallahassee (Woody Harrelson) and the two sisters Wichita (Emma Stone) and Little Rock (Abigail Breslin) formed a dysfunctional but endearing little family.
Life isn't a smooth ride, however. Firstly, because zombies thrive in this post-apocalyptic world they call Zombieland. Secondly, social structures have to be redefined: young Little Rock has no friends her own age. For Tallahassee, the ageing hero, she plays the dual role of surrogate daughter and stooge in the fight against the zombies. As for Wichita and Columbus, their relationship sinks into a routine that only satisfies one of them.
When Little Rock finally stumbles across someone her own age, a pacifist with a penchant for smoking, she takes off running. The other three set off in pursuit, recruiting a ravishing scatterbrain in the process: the typical ingredients for a road trip through Zombieland are assembled.
Rule number two: the double dose
I heard a journalist in the audience whisper to his colleague, "Ten years of waiting, I've barely had time to get impatient". It's hard not to hear the sarcasm in that remark. I can hardly blame him. "Return to Zombieland' is the sequel fans have been waiting for. Imagine going on a date with someone who never shows up when you've booked the best table at the Italian restaurant.
The fault lies with the busy schedules of actors who were still more or less unknown in 2009, but who in the meantime have become award-winning or Oscar-nominated stars. In 2013, there was indeed an attempt to make Zombieland a series without Eisenberg, Harrelson, etc., but it was a failure all round. Columbus, who was already telling the story in voiceover in the first film, actually apologises for this at the beginning. "Thank you all the same for choosing us for your zombie movie of the day", or something to that effect. Nice!
Source: Columbia Pictures
It's true that "Return to Zombieland" doesn't have the same freshness as it did in 2009 when the first opus was released. It also has to be said that over the last decade, the entertainment industry has satisfied (or even spoiled?) our zombie cravings for a long time with ten more or less successful seasons of "The Walking Dead" and its spin-off. Columbus, for example, criticises the lack of realism in a scene from a Walking Dead comic he's reading. He should know. That kind of humour appeals to me.
"Return to Zombieland" delivers a very entertaining 99 minutes. The best scenes are laugh-out-loud funny. You'll find the same ferocious, wacky humour that director Ruben Fleischer was able to infuse into "Welcome to Zombieland" ten years ago. No, the sequel doesn't reinvent the wheel, but the original atmosphere is definitely there.
This is certainly down to Fleischer enlisting the help of the first film's screenwriters, Rhett Reese and Paul Wernick. They also received support from Dave Callaham, responsible for writing "Wonder Woman 1984" for DC and "Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings" for Marvel. This teamwork enabled the same style to be retained, particularly the unusual but good quality surtitles explaining the well-known rules of Columbus.
Rule number two: the double tap. Double Tap in VO. Ah, I've just realised a pun in the title of the film in English "Zombieland: Double Tap".
The characters at the heart of the film
At no point does Fleischer lose sight of his objective: to offer a mix of action, comedy and horror where there is never a dull moment. The contract is fulfilled for "Return to Zombieland". The film, which is forbidden to under-16s, unquestionably deserves to be called a horror film. It's gory as hell, like any self-respecting zombie film.
Source: Columbia Pictures
The "Zombie Kills of the Week" are back. In the first film, the apocalypse survivors enjoyed slaughtering zombies in the most creative ways possible. The most original execution won the "Zombie Kill of the Week" award. In "Return to Zombieland", the title is no longer played out over a week, but over the year. Tasty! My favourite is the Italian one. You'll understand what I'm talking about when you watch the film.
At the heart of the zombie massacre evolve characters whose extremely different character traits create a colourful group dynamic. Tallahassee, played by Woody Harrelson, is as wonderfully eccentric, loud, vulgar and a little short-tempered as ever, but he has a good heart.
Columbus.
Columbus, played by Jesse Eisenberg, provides a stark contrast. The introverted slipper with notorious anxiety continues to refine his imposing collection of rules meant to ensure your survival in a zombie-infested world.
Source: Columbia Pictures
Emma Stone as Wichita is as great as ever, her sarcastic one-liners still second to none. Only Little Rock (Abigain Breslin), disadvantaged by the script, lacks a little presence.
On the other hand, Zoey Deutch as the delightfully silly Madison steals everyone's thunder. The way she seems to fit perfectly into the existing dynamic is awe-inspiring. All credit to the actress: she plays a character who could have been incredibly annoying, as she is in 99 out of 100 cases, but here she's the one causing the biggest laughs. Who'd have thought it? Not me.
Source: Columbia Pictures
Watching her so candidly croon "don't worry, they are more afraid of us than we are of them" during a zombie attack, you simply can't hate her. Quite the opposite, in fact. I'd feel like patting Madison on the head and telling her everything's going to be fine.
Conclusion: still entertaining even if it took 10 years
No, "Return to Zombieland" is not the must-see comedy of the year. This sequel, which arrives when it was no longer expected, is nonetheless worthy of the success of the first part.
It's all the more astonishing to see how ten years on nothing has changed in terms of the chemistry between the cast and crew. The apocalypse universe works. The road trip atmosphere of the first film is still there. Yes, 'Return to Zombieland' is a lot of fun, but it won't have the same cult following as the original. Although, the post-generic scene where a very special character appears has the potential.
"Return to Zombieland" is released on 7 November 2019 in German-speaking Switzerland and Germany. In French-speaking Switzerland, it has already been on screens since 30 October 2019. In Ticino, you'll have to wait until 14 November 2019
Luca Fontana
Senior Editor
Luca.Fontana@digitecgalaxus.chI'm an outdoorsy guy and enjoy sports that push me to the limit – now that’s what I call comfort zone! But I'm also about curling up in an armchair with books about ugly intrigue and sinister kingkillers. Being an avid cinema-goer, I’ve been known to rave about film scores for hours on end. I’ve always wanted to say: «I am Groot.»
