Starring Woody Harrelson as Tennessee and the likeable Jesse Eisenberg as Columbus (dubbed so for their desired destinations across Zombieland), this horror comedy pays homage to road trip films, unlikely buddy flicks, and of course George Romero-inspired zombie canon while staying light on its feet on all counts.  Hard knock sisters Emma Stone and Abigail Breslin con the boys into helping them in a multi-round battle of wills while avoiding the flesh-craving ghouls. 

Though there's plenty of genre gore to go around, neither the deadly plague nor its victims are meant to be taken too seriously.  This may disappoint zombie aficionados who were expecting an extended Zombie Kill of the Week sizzle reel, but this send-up still delivers on its gruesome promise and potential as seen in the popular trailers and TV spots.  On the other hand, plenty of sick-humor surprises lay in wait, including a cadaverous cameo by laughmeister Bill Murray in a fun if slightly distracting non-sequitur stop in the story.  Yet it's this absurdist take on zombie apocalypse survival that sets ZOMBIELAND apart from the pack, and to its credit.

Wisely the plot centers on this quarrelsome quartet of survivors told from Columbus' perspective and yearning to reconnect with his family.  At this heart of this journey is his eventual redefinition of what family means post Z-day, and how this unlikely nerd-hero (see violation of Survival Rules) comes of age in the End Times and beyond.  Credit to the script for not pulling punches about the millions of family, friends and citizens lost in the carnage: the living must move on if they are to live on.  This is a nice twist on the genre which only a comedy could pull off so entertainingly.

Indeed, ZOMBIELAND takes the next logical step in zombie cinema, solving the Romero-based problem of survival by showing humans can work together instead of tearing each other apart.  Punchlines replace panic in this foursome who have learned to outsmart their rotting foes and, in the case of Columbus, have devised a strict set of rules to remain among the living.  Among these are an emphasis on cardio fitness, the ever-popular double tap and avoiding bathrooms (since zombies have a knack for catching you with your pants down, literally). Fleischer has great fun inserting pop-up reminders rules in effect throughout scenes to bump up the laugh quotient.  Better still, these rules make utter sense for fans of the genre who often wonder why other zombie film characters completely abandon logic to let the makeup masters show off their gory demise.  Columbus and his pals actually work to survive, and why they've done so is logically, comically clear. 

Fun, extravagant ways to waste zombie meatbags ensue!  When faced with the undead, remember to grab the nearest banjo, aluminum bat or grand piano to earn extra style points.  It may be the end of the world as we know it, but you'll feel fine laughing it off as the undead bite it a second or third time. Turning expectation on its severed ear, Fleischer and his merry band of badasses hand out an early Halloween treat and horror fans will find ZOMBIELAND as tasty as a Twinkie.