Zombieland (1 & 2)

ZOMBIELAND: DOUBLE TAP (15)

D: Ruben Fleischer

Sony/Columbia/Pariah (Gavin Palone)

US 2019

99 mins

Comedy/Horror

W: Rhett Reese, Paul Wernick & Dave Callaham

DP: Chung Chung-Hoon

Ed: Dirk Westervelt

Mus: David Sardy

Woody Harrelson (Tallahassee), Jesse Eisenberg (Columbus), Emma Stone (Wichita), Abigail Breslin (Little Rock), Rosario Dawson (Nevada), Zoey Deutsch (Madison)

The gang are back together, 10 years after the first film which put a novel, fun spin on the zombie horror sub genre.

Surviving the zombie takeover of the world by holing up in The White House, both Wichita & Little Rock are getting bored of the routine and company and go their own way, although Wichita returns when she gets separated from her younger sister, triggering a rescue mission of sorts.

This sequel plays around with some interesting ideas, but doesn't land on any of them for long enough, merely using them as a set piece until they get to the next scene. Some new characters are introduced, including a brainless bimbo and a pair of dopplegangers whose mannerisms mirror both Tallahassee & Columbus, although the latter are merely a cameo which could have been funnier if it went on for more than just a couple of     scenes.

Overall, it's good fun, with some amusing moments, and it's nice to revisit the same characters that made the first film such a treat, but it's simply nowhere near as good as the original and feels a little bit too cash-grabby.

5/10