Zombieland

The most entertaining zombie film since Shaun of the Dead, Zombieland is an unabashedly playful take on survival in an America primarily populated by the undead. Helmed with cheeky panache by first-time feature director Ruben Fleischer, the movie captures moments of melancholy that are appropriate to its apocalyptic setting, but, for most of its refreshingly concise runtime (88 minutes), Zombieland careens from one hilarious horror situation to another, keeping both its weapons and its wit disarmingly sharp. While the film isn't terribly scary, there are a few startling moments and, most importantly, numerous scenes to keep gorehounds happy. (Yes, this is the movie that finally gets CGI blood splatter just right.) In addition to a priceless celebrity cameo that's far too good to spoil, Zombieland also get points for providing the ideal role for Zen knucklehead Woody Harrelson, who is unusually charming as the snakeskin-wearing, undead-bashing Tallahassee. Joined by the obsessively cautious Columbus (Jesse Eisenberg) and other city-named survivors, Tallahassee makes life in Zombieland look oddly appealing, even if there's a blood-encrusted ghoul lurking around almost every corner.