‘Zombieland’ sequel: better late than never

Zombieland: Double Tap” might be a little late to the party in this age of sequels we’ve been living in for some time, but that thankfully hasn’t made it a lesser movie nor taken enthusiasm away from the series’ excellent cast.

Director Ruben Fleischer (“Zombieland,” “Venom”) returns to the chair and delivers an authentic sequel that is true in style, humor and substance to the original. There are laughs, gross-outs, zany action set pieces, and just enough new things added to the overall formula that make this quite a successful sequel in execution. Many producers and directors in Hollywood could take a cue from “Double Tap” for how well it builds on the story of the first film.

That’s not saying it’s a masterpiece. A few jokes fall flat, and the introduction of a couple of new types of zombies goes nowhere. But while the walking undead are an ever-present threat, the sequel allows plenty of room for the characters to grow and expand beyond who they were at the end of the first film.

Colombus (Jesse Eisenberg) and Wichita (Emma Stone), still having their awkward yet adorable banter, have hit a rut in their relationship. Tallahassee (Woody Harrelson) is starting to embrace the ragtag post-apocalyptic family the group has become. Little Rock (Abigail Breslin) doesn’t get quite as much opportunity to shine, though the central plot revolves around her, and her character probably sees the most growth.

Added to the mix are Avan Jogia as Berkeley (Little Rock’s hippie love interest), and Luke Wilson and Thomas Middleditch as Albuquerque and Flagstaff (essentially, doppelgangers for Columbus and Tallahassee).

But perhaps the best new addition is Madison (Zoey Deutch), who, while playing a stereotypical clueless blonde, probably offers the most laughs. Her total lack of awareness, as well as her airhead dialogue, is an absolute riot at times. Though her character is presented as a stereotype, the film gives her plenty of nuances and admirable traits to make her likable, and her spouting incredibly dumb observations or thoughts as the group each react to them is a highlight of the movie.

There have been many cases of sequels released many years after their originals being absolute dumpster fires — “300: Rise of an Empire,” “Terminator 3” and “Independence Day: Resurgence,” to name a few. “Double Tap” doesn’t fall into that category, luckily, and it is a pleasant surprise fitting for the Halloween season. It’s worth a watch in the theater and would make a great movie night out with all this rain we’ve been getting.

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“Zombieland: Double Tap” is currently playing at the Riverside Cinemas, 1017 S. Boone St. in Aberdeen.

George Haerle holds a bachelor’s degree in creative writing for media and lives in Cosmopolis.