It's been 10 years since the original Zombieland and while that amount of time passing can frequently mean death to a franchise, Zombieland was a movie that, like the titular monsters, never seemed to completely stay dead. The team that brought the first one to life was always interested in making a sequel, and the fans that made the first one a hit seemed willing to wait for it to happen.
Now, that sequel, Zombieland: Double Tap, is here, and based on the reviews that are hitting the internet, it looks like those fans that have been waiting for more Zombieland are going to be pleasantly surprised. The new movie is more of what you love, even if not every critic is sold on the idea that's enough.
CinemaBlend's own Eric Eisenberg reviewed Zombieland: Double Tap and gave the film 3.5 stars, saying the movie is both a solid zombie movie and a hilarious comedy.
Zombieland: Double Tap is a solid addition to the big screen zom-com legacy, and a funny, freaky 10 year reunion.
This sentiment is largely echoed by most of the reviews that are coming out. If you liked the first one, you'll like the new one. While pretty much all the critics love the core cast, and agree that they haven't missed a beat for the most part. What helps Double Tap stand apart is the new cast of the film. Several new characters join the band of heroes we know. Zoey Deutch is getting a lot of praise for her role. IGN specifically calls her out, while calling the movie one of the funniest of the year.
Zombieland: Double Tap is a riot, and a lot of that is due to Zoey Deutch and her character, Madison. While it doesn’t quite achieve classic status in its own right, when it comes to sequels that do the original film justice, it is up there. It’s worth the wait, your time and your money.
While Zombieland: Double Tap is ultimately a comedy, it's also a zombie movie and that means the movie does have its share of action, though EW feels the action is largely unnecessary. Instead, if there's an element about the film that works alongside the comedy, it's actually the emotional core of the story.
For all the flying intestines and skulls that split open like past-due melons, Double Tap has another squishy organ at its center: a big, goofball heart.
Of course, there are those that, while they agree that Zombieland: Double Tap, is a fun, and funny, movie, feel that, since the sequel doesn't try to be more than the original, it's going to be a movie that lacks the staying power of the first movie. iO9 is one who holds this view.
Ten years later, Zombieland: Double Tap does all the same things the original did. And that’s pretty much it. The result is a suitably entertaining follow-up that’s fun but forgettable.
Birth. Movies. Death. hold a similar opinion of Double Tap. Even having just seen the movie there's a feeling that it's being forgotten. Ironically, the fact that there aren't really any elements that are truly bad might be working against it.
Zombieland: Double Tap is mostly just fine. There are far worse ways to spend a couple of hours at the movies, but at least a bad movie would be a little more memorable than this.
Taking things a step further than that, while THR is also one of those who promise that fans of the original Zombieland will enjoy Double Tap, the reviewer doesn't think anybody will be be clamoring for another sequel after this one.
When closing narration includes words to the effect of "until next time," even viewers who've fully enjoyed themselves may hope it's an empty promise.
Even if Zombieland: Double Tap doesn't earn quite the following that the original movie did, there's certainly nothing wrong with a movie that's just hilarious for a couple of hours. Fans looking for that will get everything they need.
Zombieland: Double Tap hits theaters on Friday.
