Zombieland (2009)

Zombieland (2009)

6.5/10  PG-13

From director Ruben Fleischer (30 Minutes or Less) and screenwriters Rhett Reese and Paul Wernick (both working on the 2012 G.I. Joe sequel), Zombieland was a successful step into the future of zombie cinema. The comedy followed the popular Dawn of the Dead, Land of the Dead, 28 Days Later, and Shaun of the Dead.

“Cardio.” That’s rule number one in Zombieland, the world as Columbus (Jesse Eisenberg) and Tallahassee (Woody Harrelson) know it. They team together to survive in the dawn of the living, walking dead (I tried using all the popular zombie movie words). Then they meet sisters Wichita (Emma Stone) and Little Rock (Abigail Breslin), who are also just trying to survive. When they get played by the girls, they take the motto “If you can’t beat ‘em, join ‘em” to heart. But can they survive the new world of zombies, or will their fun times get the best of them?

Zombie woman and Eisenberg

Woody Harrelson is fantastic playing…well basically himself in the role, as he often does. He is tough and rough and rowdy and he likes Twinkies. Eisenberg is also much like his other roles, cautious, gutless, nervous, and nerdy. Stone is great; Breslin is her bratty, cute, childish self.

The zombies look interesting, not Walking Dead or Dawn of the Dead great, but good enough for a comedy. Some of them look better than others; definitely watch out for the clown.

The jokes are funny, the actors are spot-on, and the make-up is good enough for this apocalyptic comedy. Sorry the review is short, I’m tired and I didn’t take notes, but I promise to at least give a short review of each movie I see. So, in the end, I recommend Zombieland, it’s an average comedy but will make most people laugh a few times. I saw it on FX, so if you flip by it, take a look…and try to survive.

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Rio (2011)

Rio (2011)

8.0/10  G

            The spirit of Rio de Janeiro is alive in Rio, the latest motion picture from the makers of Ice Age. Showcasing the impressive voice talents of Jesse Eisenberg, Anne Hathaway, and George Lopez, Rio is a colorful explosion of vision and creativity from writer and director Carlos Saldanha.

Blu (Eisenberg), the world’s last blue macaw, was living a comfortable domestic life with his owner Linda (Leslie Mann) in Minnesota when Tulio (Rodrigo Santoro), a scientist who specializes in birds, stormed into their lives demanding he reproduce. The world’s last female blue macaw, he explained, was just recently found, and the two were needed to repopulate the species…but not in Minnesota. In Rio, Jewel (Hathaway), the free-spirited mate, has no such plans of reproduction. On their first night together, everything goes wrong when an inside job leads to the bird-napping of the pair. When they escape the clutches, the world of Rio is theirs until they are found by either the bird-nappers or Linda.

George Lopez, Jesse Eisenberg, and Anne Hathaway are fabulous choices for the voice roles

Blu and Jewel are joined by Rafael, Nico, and Pedro, voiced by the fabulous talents of George Lopez, Jamie Foxx, and Will.i.am, respectively. Also, Tracy Morgan will make you smile while he voices the adorable bulldog Luiz. Together, they explore the vibrant beauty of Rio de Janeiro. Rio-born Saldanha made certain his hometown was represented well, with lively hues and gorgeous “bird’s-eye” views. Original songs by Taio Cruz and Will.i.am embody the samba spirit of the city. If ever a movie’s songs made you want to “shake your tail feather”, Rio will be the one. Especially at the beginning and end of the film, special effort will have to be made to stop from leaping out of your seat to join in the dancing fun. Foxx and Will.i.am are true double threats as voice actors and singers, and the casting of the two stars made for a wise decision.

While Carnival, Rio’s annual parade and the world’s most elaborate party, shows the wonder of the city, Rio does not hesitate to also show another side of the beautiful metropolis. Thieving monkeys, cramped slums, and families struggling to make ends meet also show themselves in this tale of corruption and survival. Saldanha does a fantastic job of displaying to the world his magical hometown. Watch for the bird/monkey battle, it will leave you and your child bending over in hilarious amusement. While keeping to the tight restrictions of a G rating, Rio is fun for the entire family. Its stunning array of colors and sounds is enjoyable no matter how old you are, and the special brand of humor will delight even the oldest in the audience. The cast enchants with talented collection of voices. Everyone will “flock” to see this animated masterpiece. It’s alright, I’m done with the “bird-play”—I mean word-play—now.

Rio is now on Blu-Ray and DVD.