Zombieland: Double Tap (2019)

(Amazon Streaming, December 2020) The first Zombieland was almost too good to be real, and perhaps Zombieland: Double Tap’s biggest success is that it remains generally comparable to its predecessor rather than drop the ball completely. It can’t equal or even approach the first film, obviously – the zeitgeist has moved on from zombies, the sarcastic simplicity of the first film can’t be re-done, and the actors are all ten years older. But Double Tap does find its own off-beat way, with new characters (the best being played by Zoey Deutch and Rosario Dawson), new settings from Graceland to Atlanta, and a spin on a hopeful finale. The sense of humour remains the most distinguishing characteristic of this take on the zombie mythos, along with a fast-paced rhythm and a generous use of both narration and on-screen gags. While still a regression to the mean, Double Tap is still a worth follow-up to the first film and will make a pretty good double bill with it.