“Zombieland: Double Tap,” the newest film from director Ruben Fleischer (“Venom”) and writing duo Rhett Reese and Paul Wernick (“Deadpool 2”), is the long-awaited sequel to the 2009 smash hit comedy, “Zombieland.” Like its predecessor, “Double Tap” impresses fans with its deviant play on the concept of a potential zombie apocalypse, while its clever comedy and an all-star cast make for a thrillingly fun time. Though it may not quite live up to the standards set by the first film, the sequel still exceeds expectations and proves that the series still has an abundance of territory to explore.
In “Double Tap,” the story follows the makeshift family comprising of Columbus (Jesse Eisenberg, “The Art of Self-Defense”), Tallahassee (Woody Harrelson, “The Highwaymen”), and Wichita, (Emma Stone, “The Favourite) as they search for their youngest member, Little Rock (Abigail Breslin, “Little Miss Sunshine”), who has run off with a pacifist musician, Berkley (Avan Jogia, “Victorious”).
The film introduces multiple new characters, with the two most notable being Flagstaff (Thomas Middleditch, “Godzilla: King of the Monsters”) and Albuquerque (Luke Wilson, “The Goldfinch”) whose personalities and physical appearances bear a striking resemblance to Columbus and Tallahassee, resulting in some of the film’s most hilarious moments. On the other hand, Madison (Zoey Deutch, “The Professor”), a new addition to the group, initially charms with her half-witted, ditzy personality, though the humor derived from her mannerisms eventually grows old and rather annoying as the film progresses, thereby taking away from the rest of the film’s comedic elements.
As any sequel should, the film expands upon the lore established by the first film, thereby allowing for more films to become a possibility. More specifically, “Double Tap” introduces the concept of the zombies evolving, thereby becoming smarter and stronger. The film also proposes the intriguing idea that, even if society is in the middle of fending off a zombie apocalypse, the option for pacifism is still available, though it may not be the best way to approach the situation. This idea partially parallels current real world situations, thus giving it a sort of satirical element which adds some intelligence to the film’s comedic portions.
Despite its originality in some respects, the film at times resorts to using similar plot elements and jokes that made the first film feel so fresh. This ultimately took away from its overall potential and made it feel slightly less funny than its predecessor. Though they were recycled, these aspects ultimately proved to be important to the story. They succeeded in reinforcing the personalities and motivations of the returning characters, while still proving to be somewhat amusing in the long run.
“Double Tap,” though slightly less effective as “Zombieland” in generating laughs, still proved itself as a worthy follow-up. With a unique cast of characters, both new and returning, a strong sense of heart and a fun story, the film seemingly indicates that there may be more in store for its characters in the future, much to the delight of fans who wish for a third installment.
Image from Sony Pictures Entertainment via YouTube
