Dig It

The unthinkable has happened. You witnessed the infection start; you saw it spread; and thousands have turned into mindless zombies. Against all odds, you survived it all. Months have passed, but your head is still soundly on your shoulders and your innards are still inside you. Alright, that’s all well and good, but now what? “Zombieland” shows us that while surviving might not be that difficult (as long as you play by the right rules), actually living in this new world is almost impossible. The movie follows four survivors — addressed in the film by where they’re from: Tallahassee, Columbus, Wichita and Little Rock — as they cope with life in a lonely world, trusting the few people who are willing to help.

But that’s not to say this movie isn’t hilarious. Shuffling zombies practically beg to be killed in the most creative and amusingly gory ways. Of course, in a movie with only four people who aren’t zombies, the main characters make or break the film. Fortunately, “Zombieland” knows how to deliver where it counts. Tallahassee’s (Woody Harrelson) “nut up or shut up” attitude contrasted with Columbus’s (Jesse Eisenberg) overly cautious take on survival make for an odd and humorous pairing. Throw in Wichita (Emma Stone) and Little Rock (Abigail Breslin), sibling con artists with severe trust issues, and you end up with one big happy family hitting the road and looking for safety in a world where the few remaining humans are considered a delicacy. A well-timed surprise cameo by a familiar Hollywood face doesn’t hurt, either.

Now, maybe I’m a little biased. I play “Left 4 Dead” religiously; I participated in Humans vs. Zombies; and, I admit that I have a contingency plan in the event of a zombie apocalypse. All that notwithstanding, I loved “Zombieland.” But before you see it, remember: Cardio is key, don’t skimp on ammunition, and always buckle your seatbelt.