Zombieland: Double Tap

There are people that you meet in this life that you will be thankful for every day. Honestly, I’ve felt that gratitude grow ever since this journey with podcasting has grown. There is one man in particular, however, that has opened up a whole new world of appreciation and thought-provoking questions I never thought to ask. With his friendship, I feel oddly knighted into his world. A series of behind the scenes relationships that span decades. I guess for you to truly understand where I’m going with this, I have to do the shameless plug and name drop. *laughs* Larry Mohrmann, has been an awesome pod-brother and friend to get to know these past couple of years. Through him, I’ve had the ability to get to know his inner circle of friends and podcast creators as well.

A couple of years ago, I had the pleasure of being asked to do New York Comic Con with our friends at Fierce Literature. Though, it came at a cost. I would need to get someone else to do our Friday episode. So, I turned the reigns over to The Better Half Podcast, aka Larry & Frank. If you’ve never listened to their show or know anything about Frank. Allow me to tell you one fun fact. Frank is the guy you want to have in your corner, come the zombie apocalypse. Frank has thought of everything, down to every breath you’d take during the outbreak. In fact, we did a whole episode about it with them. And so, I circle around to my original point about being thankful to know someone like Frank. Side note: Frank, if it ever happens, I’m finding a way to your corner of the world. *laughs awkwardly again*

Such is the case that we find our friends, Tallahassee (Woody Harrelson), Columbus (Jesse Eisenberg), Wichita (Emma Stone) & Little Rock (Abigail Breslin) in as we journey back to the world of Zombieland. For its sequel, the zombie comedy, finds some time past the events of the first film and the unlikely foursome have grown into a family of sorts. However, Wichita & Little Rock leave the domestic life early in the film and Little Rock ultimately leaves her sister for the stoner musician, Berkeley (Avan Jogia). It’s up to the rest of the family to get Little Rock back, all while fighting off the ever-growing evolution of the Zombie breed. For a genre that has literally offered up just about every breed of zombie you can think of – Double Tap manages to feel extraordinarily refreshing. Offering not only the signature Zombieland opening narrative and exploration but also the evolution of the Zombie breed. The evolution allows the film to dance in the horror genre, while remaining perfectly planted in the comedy genre at the same time.

Zombieland I would argue came as a surprise to many viewers upon their first viewing. Perhaps it was the writing or perhaps it was the core cast’s chemistry with one another. Both of which are present in the new film, but with a bit of twist. As previously mentioned the film’s setting takes place years after the first film and with that the family dynamic grows with it. The core cast largely feels the same at their roots but feel radically sprouted in the same breath. Eisenberg and Stone are officially dating. Though, it ends rather early in the film to favor a pointless romance arc between Eisenberg & Zoey Deutch’s Madison. It’s not to say that Eisenberg and Deutch don’t have good chemistry because they do. Even going as far as to offer up some of the best comedic elements of the film. Though, it’s pointless in the long run of the narrative.

Such is the case with many of the new characters we come across in the film. Albuquerque (Luke Wilson), Flagstaff (Thomas Middleditch), Jogia, & Deutch are all dead weight for the film. Which in hindsight feels a bit contradictory of Eisenberg’s rules, one of which being to travel light. While Wilson & Middleditch have one of the best, and funniest sequences, within Double Tap. Their time is nothing more than a glorified cameo and you’re left thirsty, not satisfied. While Zombieland stays close to the vest in developing its core, it’s a bit troubling to see how they handle the remainder of their cast. With the exception being, Rosario Dawson’s Nevada. The single-handedly new addition to the world that feels fleshed out.

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Overall, Zombieland: Double Tap feels like a nice companion but largely misses out on the rules of Zombieland. Someone forgot to remind the filmmakers of rule #7 in traveling light. Double Tap is weighted down by new additions that never get probably fleshed out. Largely serving little to no purpose for the film’s narrative – the new additions help flesh out the world but fail to flesh out themselves. With the exception being Rosario Dawson. The core cast in Woody Harrelson, Jesse Eisenberg, Emma Stone and Abigail Breslin returning bodes well for the film. Basking in its signature storytelling, visuals, humor, and chemistry – Double Tap still has much to offer. Even going as far as to make the zombie genre feel refreshing again. Double Tap might feel bigger but thrives in its intimate moments.

RORSCHACH RATING:

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