The Band is Back Together with ZOMBIELAND: Double Tap

Jeri Jacquin

Just in time for the spooky and creepy season from director Ruben Fleischer and Columbia Pictures is the continuation of rules to survival with ZOMBIELAND: Double Tap.

So a few years have gone by since we last checked in with the apocalypse survivors as Tallahassee (Woody Harrelson), Columbus (Jesse Eisenberg), Wichita (Emma Stone) and Little Rock (Abigail Breslin) are taking a zombie break living in a big white house. Columbus and Wichita have settled into being a couple, Tallahassee is working on a new vehicle and Little Rock is getting itchy feet.

Thinking that Wichita might need something to look forward to, Columbus does his best to clear a path for their life. Spooked by his suggestion, both the girls pack up and hit the road. A month later, Columbus is heartbroken and Tallahassee is about to lose his mind with his whining so hitting up the local mall the two get more than they bargained for. Cute and fluffy Madison (Zoey Deutch) has survived in a mall and is happy to see others.

So happy that she latches onto Columbus which doesn't work out really well when Witchita resurfaces with the news that Little Rock has taken up with a non-gun-toting-pacifist named Berkeley (Avan Jogia). On their way to Graceland perks Tallahassee up and all four jump into a vehicle to make their way to see the King - oh yea, and to get Little Rock Back.

Finding a hotel, the gang (minus one and plus one) meet Nevada (Rosario Dawson), Albuquerque (Luke Wilson) and Flagstaff (Thomas Middleditch). In a scuffle to end all scuffles, the gang (minus one with no plus one) heads off for a place called Babylon where Little Rock is supposed to be.

Well, to make a long story short (I know, too late!), Babylon is a perfect place for Berkeley with their non-gun-pacifist-giving-post-apocalyptic-peace-a-chance. All that would be wonderful except for one thing, a new breed of zombies affectionately called T-800's are headed toward the drum circle and the only people that know how to stop them are going to do just that!

Eisenberg as Columbus is sticking to his rules (well, except for Madison) and knows that since they've been laying low for a bit their zombie skills might be a little rusty. Once Wichita comes back the tension is full of well-deserved shade. Eisenberg doesn't miss a Columbus step. Stone as Wichita is still a strong lady who doesn't know what she wants relationship wise and her protective sister instincts are strong. She is just fun all the way around.

Breslin as Little Rock has itchy feet because she's tired of hanging out with people not her age. It isn't easy and when she meets Berkeley, Little Rock sees a chance to do something different while paying homage to Cheech & Chong with a little road trip. Jogia as Berkeley reminds me of every cliché about guitar playing pacifists to the point that agreeing with Tallahassee is hilarious.

Speaking of Harrelson as Tallahassee, he has become the father figure to the group whether he likes it or not. When Little Rock runs off you can see his 'dad' side come out with wanting to do only one thing - end Berkeley. I love that Harrelson finally got a chance to ham it up with some Elvis impersonating.

Shout out to Deutch as Madison because her character is just everything we never thought we wanted for Zombieland. She is hilarious, speaks her mind even if it doesn't make sense, isn't judgmental towards the situation the world finds itself in, is just the happiest survivor I think I've ever seen. Plus she looks absolutely fabulous through the entire film!

Dawson as Nevada is a nice addition to the storyline, Wilson as Albuquerque has a truck bigger than Tallahassee's and Middleditch as Flagstaff knows his Terminator movies and quotes. That's all I'm saying about that because you should have all the giggles I did with the new additions to the Zombieland universe.

First, what I love best about ZOMBIELAND: Double Tap is that the storyline doesn't try to reinvent the wheel. Instead, it picks up a few years later without missing a sarcastic beat. The characters have become a little lazy behind the walls of their big ole house so adventures in zombieland are inevitable. What hasn't changed is their idiosyncrasies, their need to not admit that they are feeling anything out of the ordinary like commitment, or the fact that they treat each other exactly as they did in 2009.

Think about that for a minute, it's been 10 years since we were introduced to ZOMBIELAND and the only one that has aged is Abigail Breslin. Harrelson, Eisenberg and Stone look fantastic and I can't express enough how glad I am that they all came back to make this sequel. Let's be honest, sequels don't always work out well and it is mainly because the expectations are really high. In ZOMBIELAND: Double Tap, the only thing I expected is that the humor be at the same level as before and I wasn't disappointed in any way.

I had a fun time, enjoyed getting reacquainted with old friends and understanding that the rules that Columbus introduced us to in 2009 are what kept these characters alive. In their world all bets are off because the only thing they need to do is remember they are a family - oh and stay alive!

That's right folks, no spoilers here because there is oh so much more to see and make sure you don't run out of the theatre just because you see credits!

In the end - it's their world and we just get to enjoy it. 

J.D. Salinger’s Story Comes to Life in REBEL IN THE RYE

Jeri Jacquin

This Friday from writer/director Danny Strong and IFC Films is the life of an author who wrote himself into history as the REBEL IN THE RYE.

The film begins with J.D. Salinger (Nicholas Hoult) stating “Holden Caulfield is dead”! That being said, a young Salinger is trying to find out where he belongs in the world. Convincing his parents that he wants to be a writer, Jerry enters Columbia University where he meets Whit Burnett (Kevin Spacey). Immediately testing his professor, Burnett challenges Jerry to become the writer he is.

Wanting to become published, Jerry’s learns that to be published means giving up what he believes is the heart of his work. He also finds love with Oona O’Neill (Zoey Deutch) and the war comes into his life. Burnett sees this young writer with great potential leave for battle asking that he continue writing stories with the character of Holden Caulfield.

War is more than he can take as Jerry retreats into himself mentally telling the story of Caulfield. Trying to find his way back to the world, The Catcher in the Rye is born and the book explodes. Jerry and wife Claire (Lucy Boynton) find a cottage in the woods but it is only a matter of time before the world expects another masterpiece from him. Even Burnett reaches out and Caulfield isn’t keen on going farther than the fence on his land.

It is what happens when you ‘write and get nothing in return’.

Hoult as Salinger is absolutely stunning. He brings to the character frustration, heart ache, stubbornness, fear, challenges and all of it leads to Salinger being reclusive. He takes the character step by step but doesn’t take his foot off the gas. I loved every moment of Hoult on screen and probably because I have always loved Salinger’s work. He gives Salinger to us with the good, bad and the ugly and I wouldn’t have it any other way. So well done and thank you.

Spacey as Burnett, I mean really, do I need to say it? Spacey gives this character a sly sense of humor and cutting wit but behind it is such insecurity and fear equally Salinger’s own. Watching his protégé move forward without him, Spacey’s Burnett is struggling to reconnect with what he believes is a young man with immense talent. Spacey is once again outstanding and beautiful in this role.

Paulson as Olding is an agent who believes in her client. She continually struggles to get his work published, especially when they want rewrites, but always does what Jerry wants. Boynton as Claire tries to understand what Jerry is going through but he makes it difficult when he spends more time writing than with their marriage and children. Deutch as Oona makes Jerry happy until she doesn’t and her marriage to someone else is in the tabloids and still talked about to this day.

Other cast include Brian d’Arcy James as Giroux, Victor Garber as Sol Salinger, James Urbaniak as Gus, Adam Busch as Nigel, and Jefferson Mays as William.

The film’s director Strong writes the screenplay with Kenneth Slawenski who wrote the biography J.D. Salinger: A Life. Together Strong and Slawenski give the audience some insight to the life of Salinger.

THE REBEL IN THE RYE is cinematically beautiful with the era costuming that adds another depth to the story telling. Hoult and Spacey together are stunning playing off each other with a friendship that becomes a struggle for Salinger. The scene between the two trying to reconnect really broke my heart a bit and I loved it at the same time.

That’s really what this film does, takes us on a blink of an eye journey through the life of a writer that has captured the hearts and minds of millions – and continues to do so. After seeing the film I came home to find my copy of The Catcher in the Rye and within a few days came away with a deeper love of the book and a deeper joy from the film.

Discover Salinger in a different way with REBEL IN THE RYE.

In the end – it is a battle between writing and the writer!