Zombieland is finally available on DVD to bring its unique blend of horror and comedy to the masses. After griping more than once about the lack of features that could be called “special” on a DVD, Zombieland delivers with bonus material that is different, fun, and provides authentic things audiences aren’t aware of.
After the events of the “zombie apocalypse” Columbus (Jesse Eisenberg) is simply trying to survive. On his way to the city of his namesake he runs into the gun-toting Tallahassee (Woody Harrelson) whose goal is to find a box of Twinkies. When the two meet up with sisters attempting to make it to Pacific Playland, the group decide to go together to find the last “zombie-free” place. Zombieland could be seen as Shaun of the Dead for teens but it’s got genuine heart and humor. From Tallahassee’s obsessive quest for a Twinkie to the group taking over Bill Murray’s house and finding the titular actor as a fake zombie, these moments will connect and make you laugh for days. The group slowly becomes a family and it’s obvious through the camaraderie and dialogue they all spout. Harrelson gives a fantastic and humorous turn as Tallahassee, his character is more than what he seems and he’s got incredible comedic timing. Eisenberg and Emma Stone are fantastic as Columbus and the deceptive Wichita respectively. Stone doesn’t play the sweet girl next door as in prior film but plays a femme fatale of sorts able to play men and achieve what she wants, trying to protect herself and her little sister.
The DVD is jam-packed with hilarity, most of it coming in the form of a full-length commentary with the director, writers, and actors. Woody Harrelson lends the most insight discussing his love of character development and Bill Murray. Jesse Eisenberg also throws in some great lines including detailing how his lone shirtless seen made him think of his grandparents as Holocaust survivors. Director Ruben Fleischer and writers Rhett Reese and Paul Wernick give the technical side of the movie detailing its rise from a failed television pilot and various deleted scenes. The entire group has a strong rapport and it’s the most entertaining commentary in awhile. The slew of deleted scenes range from extended dialogue to additional rules, one detailing the need for Ziploc bags. It’s easy to see why they were cast aside but unlike most deleted scenes they’re all interesting and fun to watch. The two featurettes, “Zombieland is Your Land” and “In Search of Zombieland” all attempt to detail the making of the movie. The most fascinating aspects involve the filming locations in Georgia and working on such a limited budget that foods in the grocery store scene were paper pictures. There’s a Visual Effects Progression Scene that details how certain effects were achieved and that’s an interesting watch if you enjoyed that area of the movie. The Woke Up Dead Episode and trailers was a bit pointless, the latter because the trailers are for other movies.
Zombieland is great to watch on a second try and if you’ve never seen it. The DVD actually delivers more than enough to satisfy casual fans as well as the devout and you don’t have to pay extra to get everything on Blu-Ray!
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