Zombie apocalypse. Those two words represent an entire revolution in pop culture that has infiltrated movies, literature, television, comics and practically every other form of entertainment. From “28 Days Later” to “The Walking Dead,” the notion of a zombie apocalypse has become commonplace.
However, I have recently felt that all of the zombie storylines I read or watched were unoriginal and essentially the same plot. Therefore, it was refreshing to see that Jonathan Levine’s “Warm Bodies,” based on the novel of the same name by Isaac Marion, is a funny and charming film, and presents a pleasantly original spin on the zombie apocalypse genre.
The film’s plot, for those who haven’t seen the bombardment of advertising on television, revolves around a zombie who falls in love with a human girl and consequently begins to become human once more. Although I initially thought the concept was a little far-fetched, I reminded myself it was, after all, a movie about zombies. So I went to the theatre, bought a ticket and sat down with my drink and snacks to see what all the hype was about.
I can truthfully say I was entertained the whole time. “Warm Bodies” is a fantastic mixture of action, romance, creepiness and comedy. More than once the audience burst into laughter, and many of the characters’ one-line zingers contrasted well with the grotesque, uncomfortable scenes of zombies eating human flesh.
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The concept behind the zombies’ motives was interesting, as well. Without giving away too much, the basic idea is they eat humans’ brains so they can experience the memories stored in the brain matter. Nicholas Hoult, who plays the undead protagonist called “R” does an excellent job of portraying the conflict of a zombie in love. As seen in the trailer, his heart begins to beat again as he slowly comes back to life, but he must also deal with the demands of his flesh-craving condition.
Teresa Palmer plays Julie Grigio, the daughter of the remaining humans’ leader and the girl with whom R falls in love. I won’t go into details, so as to avoid spoilers, but at the beginning of the film, I thought her character wasn’t emotionally believable. However, as the conflict digs up more of Grigio’s past, the audience is able to understand her and better sympathize with her situation. Palmer is stunning in her performance, and her chemistry with Hoult is evident throughout the film.
I was happily surprised to see John Malkovich playing General Grigio, Julie’s father. The veteran actor’s involvement in the movie gave it much more credibility than was previously attributed, and Malkovich, per usual, delivers an intense performance that hooks the audience into the supernatural world.
As I left the theatre, I was glad I had watched “Warm Bodies.” Not only because of the laughs, which were definitely a huge component, but also because of the message of hope the film delivers. I think any worthwhile piece of art or entertainment should end with a note of hope, and Levine’s movie did not disappoint. I highly recommend going to see “Warm Bodies,” although I would caution those with weak stomachs from visiting the concession stand beforehand.
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