Zombieland: Double Tap ★★★

Reviewed on FHC 144

First off, it's worth noting that I enjoyed this movie and I'd definitely watch it again. I might turn it off after a certain motel scene but I'd watch a LOT of it again. The opening credits were one of the most unique uses of text interacting with the world onscreen that I've ever seen but some of the use of those effects does tend to get old further into the movie. The self-referential stuff is the same way. It's almost like they had a formula from the '09 original and were a bit shy about straying too far away from it.

The film climaxes (at least from an action/intrigue standpoint) at the hotel with Luke Wilson and the crew. In some ways, the structure of Double Tap reminds me a lot of Hobbes and Shaw; (the Fast and Furious' finely curated viewing experience from earlier this year). After a pretty awesome action set-piece, each movie remembers it still has about 40 minutes that need filling. In both cases the third act feels like it's doubling down on an idea that was mentioned briefly early on and ultimately serves as a shorthanded way to try to tie together some thematic loose ends that, in my opinion, didn't need introducing in the first place. 

It's easy to want to dig into this film and try to analyze it in some meaningful way and, in my defense, there are moments that the film really feel like it wants it's viewers searching for some deeper meaning but this movie is at it's best when it's leads are quipping and shooting zombies. The gore is wonderful. The gunplay is fun and light but realistic ENOUGH. 

Keep it as a movie about a group of friends fighting zombies in the apocalypse and leaving the deeper friendship and meaning of life stuff to Edgar Wright and Simon Pegg.

-Max Minardi