Triple Zombie Feature

Today I review three zombie films: Shawn of the Dead, Zombieland, and Mulberry St.  Two are funny.  One is boring.

Shawn of the Dead: Thumbs Up

At the time, this was an original idea: a funny zombie movie.  To be sure, many zombie films have incorporated elements of humor - sometimes unintentional.  But the idea of a zombie comedy was original.  I was worried that British-style slapstick wouldn't translate well to a zombie movie, but it does.  The script and acting are mediocre at best, but the directing more than makes up for any other shortcomings.  Near the beginning, the protagonist is hung over and stumbles to the local corner store to get cigarettes or something.  He passes other people who also look hung over: they are shambling slowly down the street and groaning.  What a parable for modern society.

The result is a crisp, fun film that offers both comedy and satisfying zombie action.  It also served as the inspiration for another zombie comedy, this one Made in America:

Zombieland: Thumbs Up

I liked this film even more.  When it comes to zombie films, let's be honest, we're generally not talking about high art, we're talking about pulp fiction.  That being the case, I don't mind the new genre of "zombie comedies" getting the Hollywood treatment: high production values, big-name actors, and snappy special effects.

This time, the plot is actually better.  A lone survivor making his way across the country teams up with three other lone survivors.  They join forces and agree on a common goal (sort of).

One conceit is the protagonist's "Rules."  Anyone who has spent any time thinking about the impending zombie apocalypse has created his own rules and will be gratified to see whether his personal list matches up with the film's (mine did).  Add in Woody Harrelson as an "I don't give a crap" loaner who sees survival as an art, not a science, and you have a fun mix.  Add in a couple girls--one of them cute--and the mix is more than fun.

This film offers a few things that most zombie films don't, including a real story arc.  Midway through the film I suddenly realized that I identified more with Harrelson than with the main character.  Watch the movie yourself and (if you know me at all) you'll understand why.  Were I in his situation, I'd probably respond exactly the same way.  Except, I won't eat Twinkies.  They're not kosher.

This was a film that left me immensely satisfied.  I would actually love to see a sequel.

Mulberry St.: Thumbs Down

This zombie flick only came out a couple years ago, but somehow managed not to register on my radar.  Now I know why.

I became aware of it when someone posted a clip on Youtube, announcing that it was the "greatest zombie scene of all time."  It involves a guy and girl making out in a bathroom at a bar.  Remember, this is a zombie film.  Guess what happens.

My curiosity piqued, I watched the rest of the movie.  The basic premise is that the rats in New York City carry some sort of disease that turns people into rat people.  So technically it isn't a zombie film, but most zombie films aren't these days.  Ah well.

The action centers around the tenants of a single apartment building on Manhattan Island.  The building is located on Mulberry St., although much of the action takes place elsewhere.  There is the stereotypical cast of characters: the old guy, the black guy, the ex-marine, the single (hot) mom, her kid who is a withdrawn artist type with a camera, and a couple single straight men thrown in for a possible romance subplot.

The biggest problem is poor directing.  Half the time I couldn't tell what was going on because of dim lighting and shaky camera work, but I also didn't care.  The scenes were simply strung together and I rarely cared what happened to any of the characters.  The first half hour was devoted to creating these characters in the hopes that I would care whether they got eaten or not, but I never really did.  Toward the end, as characters started getting munched, it became a classic game of "guess who survives."  At the end, it's not really obvious.

Add in some other cliches, like slow government response, and when the feds finally do show up, they wear masks and kill indiscriminately.

Bottom line, Mulberry St. is not worth watching.  If you are looking for "serious" zombie flicks, I can recommend some other films that are much better.  Don't waste your time on this one.