Welcome to Zombieland. Formerly known as the United States of America.
After a mad cow type virus spreads and turns almost the entire countries population into flesh craving zombies, the nickname is well earned and survival is key for the remaining few. From first time director Ruben Fleischer, Zombieland is an impressive debut. 

 Perfectly balancing the line between action and comedy, one would think Fleischer has done this all before. A brilliant opening credits sequence gives us a fair idea of whats to come in a spectacular, gooey, fun fashion. We follow Columbus and Tallahassee ( Jesse Eisenberg & Woody Harrelson ) as they reluctantly team with grifter sisters Wichita & Little Rock ( Emma Stone & Abigail Breslin ) to wander the land as if it is their own, which it pretty much is. On their way to a West Coast  destination they  encounter the occasional undead, which are disposed of, in particular by Tallahassee gleefully in numerous creative ways. A highlight involves an excellent self effacing cameo from a surviving celebrity. The film breaks the zombie movie mould by allowing the well written (for a zombie film) characters drive the story, with the zombies taking a backseat throughout many scenes.

This doesn’t hurt the film in any way though, as there is enough going on elsewhere to keep you entertained and a finale to more than make up for any prior lack of zombies. Harrelson is perfectly unhinged as Tallahassee, a role he no doubt enjoyed, Eisenberg is awkwardly amusing while Stone and Breslin provide solid support.

If you can get past the occasional gooey moments, there is some real fun to be had here. Like a crazy American cousin of Shaun of the Dead, Zombieland earns its place among the zombie elite.

8/10

PK (TELLYS)