Warm Bodies
Starring Nicholas Hoult, Teresa Palmer, John Malkovich, Dave Franco
Directed by Jonathan Levine



R (Nicholas Hoult) is quite an unusual zombie.  He can't remember becoming a zombie, but he has his mental capacity about him, and he knows enough what he is, and he doesn't like it.  He spends his days randomly roaming an abandoned airport, and his nights in an airplane equipped with several trinkets he's taken, along with an old style record player that he plays music from.

 Meanwhile, in the walled-up city, Julie (Teresa Palmer), her boyfriend Perry (Dave Franco) and some friends are sent on a mission by her father, Grigio (John Malkovich) to venture out into the zombie-ridden city for medical supplies.  While gaining the supplies, R and his zombie friends are randomly walking about and come upon the group, and R ends up killing Perry and eating his brain, which gives him the ability to see Perry's life.  As Perry's moments flash before R's eyes, he notices Julie and instantly falls in love with her.  He rescues her from the other zombies and brings her back to the airport, to Julie's shock.

At first Julie is scared, but as she talks to R, and he begins to talk back, she begins to realize that he's changing, and that the zombies aren't the real threat - it's the boneys, a group of former zombies who've completely shed their skin and have become walking skeletons who feast on the flesh of the living.  As they flee not only from the boneys but also her father and his army, Julie and R grow closer, and R slowly begins to regain his sense of humanity, but will they be able to convince her father that there's a cure for the zombie apocalypse?

I really enjoyed this film on multiple levels.  Firstly it's a zombie movie, which automatically earns points from me, because there's very few zombie movies I didn't like.  Secondly, it takes on a new method to the zombies - that they can regain their humanity.  Third, it's a comedy, and a funny one at that.  Fourth, it takes on the tale of a modern day Romeo and Juliet (hence the name "R" and "Julie"), two star-crossed lovers from totally different ends of society (obviously) who fall in love despite her father's wishes.  Finally, it gives an undertone of how society is nowadays (in one scene R reflects on what society used to be like, with people talking and communicating, and all we see are people randomly walking around on their phones, not talking to anyone), and shows how prejudice can tear people apart. 

At the end of it all, it's still a better love story than Twilight.

My Rating: A

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Major Theatrical Releases May 2019

Major Theatrical Releases May 2016

The Living Dead