Review of Zombieland: Double Tap (2019) by Michaelwelch016 — 07 Nov 2019

Zombieland: Double Tap simply is...the sequel to Zombieland. It's nothing new or overwhelmingly impressive, nor is it executed flawlessly. Yet, I really missed this crazy group of characters navigating this crazy zombie-filled world, and this film brought me back to them. Although making an effort to be bigger and better, it doesn't seem to go as far as to lose meaning or value- save for a few moments. Some time I'd rather spend with old characters was given to new, but the movie still doubles down on the personalities of these familiar characters and their struggles within their post-apocalyptic family dynamic. Where we start out they've learned how to live in Zombieland and they've been living well. That is, until we dive into their internal struggles coupled with a brand new physical threat. I was often amused by the new characters introduced and their respective places in the story, even when they're certain gag characters I didn't care for at first which, surprisingly enough, lead into my favorite action sequence in the whole movie. Even with an ending that in my eyes was rushed to reach that "bigger and better" sequel finale, it never lost me. At times, it does try to be explosively more epic than what came before, but that being said, remember: this is Zombieland, not World War Z. Mass amounts of zombies aren't going to tumble over a wall and a slaughter fest of epic proportions will not ensue. Or, maybe, exactly that does happen... but if it does it will be Zombieland style, not big budget zombie action flick style. Let's not forget how relatively minimal the first film was when it came to action. At the end of the day, as long as Double Tap doesn't lose sight of itself, I'll be all for it and despite going in nervous, I was indeed all for it. At heart, this is a movie about family and how they've grown together, then apart, and how they find their way back to one another. It was a fun movie with the action, the laughs, and the heart of the first. It was just Zombieland. It didn't need to be anything revolutionary or intricate, and it by no means is. It just had to embody what came before. It was a good time capitalizing on what made the first so impressive even when it threads the needle of sacrificing depth for surface. For fans of the original, there is surely enjoyment to be found in returning to Zombieland once again. The former holds a special place in my heart and this can't quite harness that same lightning in a bottle, but it comes close enough that I'm it glad exists. Even if I did have to wait a decade...

And, THAT credit scene was spectacular.