Zombieland

Directed by Ruben Fleischer and James L. Frachon
RT score: 90%
2009

I see no point in comparing Zombieland to Shaun of the Dead so I want to avoid that right off the bat. Yes, both can be considered romantic comedies set in a world infected by fleshing eating zombies but which seems to make them forever connected but really they each deserve to be viewed as separate entities.
And with that in mind, one of the things I appreciate about the making of Zombieland is the efficiency with which the film is made. Too often a film like this will under cut it's own momentum by feeling a need to explain where the virus came from or spending too much time on back stories of things like that. I love that Zombieland is an efficient comedy that happened to be a perfect remedy for me during a stretch when I was stressed out by work and school when I was able to make time to see it in theaters. In an era where almost very film clocks in at 2 hours, there is something nice about the pacing here and the fact that by the time the 85 minutes or so are complete you feel like you get everything you could have possibly wanted and nothing you didn't want.
The film is also great for the performances. Zombieland combined with The Social Network has made me a huge Jesse Eisenberg fan. Woody Harrelson is phenomenal as the no non-sense twinkie seeking Tallahasse and Emma Stone, well, Emma Stone is nearly perfect as the girl who will give you a million reasons not to trust her and you'll still go back for more.
The follows Eisenberg and his list of rules for survival in Zombieland. He is trying to find a way back to Columbus to see if his family is still there when he crossed paths with Tallahassee. The two form your classic odd couple as they agree to travel together and eventually cross paths with Emma Stone and her sister how attempt to hustle and con their way to the west coast and Pacific Playland (Disney land without the naming rights).
The stories climax takes place at Pacific Play land were we get an incredible mix of zombie killing madness while maintaining the films sense of humor. That is the stories climax, but for me the films climax is Bill Murray's cameo. I have loved Bill Murray for years and this cameo is off the charts great. Harrelson instantly turns into a blubbering superfan while Emma Stone just stands there dumbstruck. They both react exactly the same way I assume the two people reading this would and it is simply about 5 minutes that feels like a tribute to the awesomeness that is Bill Murray. I love this movie, I love the end, but honestly I could probably watch the 5 minutes with Bill Murray a million times and never get tired of it. It's a great a tribute to a man that has been brilliant for so long and while the whole movie is great it's this part alone that makes the movie so awesome.