A plague has swept the world over, and people have turned into zombies--everyone, that is, except a select few who have somehow managed to find a way to survive living by their own rules for keeping alive. We start on a young man named Columbus (after where he is from, people are identified by locations so no one gets too attached) who is on his way back home from Austin (represent!) to see if his parents are still alive. Along the way he fights some zombies and happens upon a bad ass, take no prisoners, Twinkie hunter named Tallahassee (guess where he's from?). Together the two set out for Ohio until they happen upon two con girls who steal their car and weapons. It's no-holds-barred when you're living in Zombieland.

MORE after the jump...

The plot sounds intriguing; the trailers make it seem cool, and guess what? It's a pretty fun movie to watch. First time director Ruben Fleischer seems to have some tricks up his sleeves and he lets you know from the opening credits that he has a flair for visuals and a proclivity towards the comedic side of horror. The film is a breezy 90 minutes that never lets up on the laughs, action, or surprises.

I am not a fan Jesse Eisenberg (Columbus). He and Michael Cera (whom I enjoy) are battling it out for a niche that I didn't know existed and I frankly want no part of. Eisenberg basically does the same Woody Allen impression through each film, and simply reacts surprisingly and anxiety-ridden to each new film environment he finds himself in; "Ack, I hate my job at this theme park," or "Ack, I hate this world filled of zombies." I'm seldom impressed by Eisenberg and often annoyed.

Woody Harrelson's Tallahassee, on the other hand, couldn't be more of a delight. Woody brings all the swagger and sheer BADitude he needs for the role of a man escaping his demons by pursuing a golden-y cream-filled pastry. The girls (Abigail Breslin, and Emma Stone) do enough to make you believe them as characters, but they aren't anything special. And the surprises are best left unsaid, but, rest assured, there is one that you won't be able to stop talking about long after the credits roll.

Zombieland isn't a great movie by any means, but it's a pretty fun one that never takes itself seriously. There's little story to follow, and character development doesn't really exist, but who cares? You get to hang out with fun characters who do enjoyable things. Although one nitpick that drove me nuts was the fact that there was power everywhere. Did these zombies keep things up and running somehow? So, temper your expectations and you might just come out having fun; believe the hype, and you will walk out angry.

--Greg MacLennan