Starring: Nicholas Hoult, Teresa Palmer and John Malkovich
Review Written By: Michael Dalton (Prime Minister)
Warm Bodies is a unique and charming spin on the romantic-comedy. While Shaun of the Dead originated and coined the term rom-zom-com, this is the first film since that effort to be worthy of sharing such a description and becoming the second film within that subgenre (Although I’d argue this is more of a rom-zom than a rom-zom-com) Jonathan Levine (Director of 50/50) wrote and directed this effort, with him infusing it with a visual vibrancy that ensures its invention spreads beyond the page and well and truly onto the screen.
Nicholas Hoult has what is hopefully the first of many leading Hollywood roles. His performance is one that will be underrated due to it falling into the, harder than it looks, category. For the first two thirds if not for the majority of this film, Hoult has to express many emotions whilst under the constraints of being a zombie. While admittedly the presence of narration is of significant aid, Hoult still has to make us believe in his character and emotions. He carries this film on his heavy zombie shoulders and there is a clear psychical progression, adaptation and evolution in his performance over the course of the film. No actor in this film gives a performance that is anything earth shattering, yet that is not the expectation and while actors such as John Malkovich could have had their talents utilized beyond fulfilling a certain cliché, there is not a single bad performance in this film.
The script is full of many original ideas and this is certainly the freshest take on the zombie genre I have seen since Shaun of the Dead and is perhaps the most heartfelt spin on the genre I have ever seen. While Shaun of the Dead certainly has the better of Warm Bodies in the comedy department, the romance elements of this film are of much more focus than they were in Shaun. Therefore while this film is nowhere near to taking over Shaun’s mantle as my favourite zombie movie, it is certainly the best zombie-romance I have ever seen and for now, the definitive zombie-romance film. What truly augments this film despite the presence of original ideas in its script and capable performances from its cast is the direction of Jonathan Levine. Levine marries the inventive ideas with inventive visuals, with a sequence where a zombie eating somebody’s brains leads them to posses and view their memories, experiences and emotions, being the optimal example of that.
Another attractive aspect of Warm Bodies, is its soundtrack. Jonathan Levine films always have a great soundtrack and Warm Bodies has one which boasts the likes of Bruce Springstein, Bob Dylan, Guns N’ Roses and M83. It is a soundtrack, which is consistently appropriate, and serves to further bring you into and be charmed by, the world of the film. Warm Bodies is ultimately a film which contains a sweet and sentimental message about human connection which is not overplayed to the point of cheesiness, with the originality of other aspects of the film and the charm it creates, blinding you to the clichés and conventions that this film does still posses. The film is also fully aware of the ridiculousness of its premise, never takes itself too seriously and clocks in at just the right running time for what it is, take note filmmakers.
However despite a charmingly underplayed central idea, competent performances, narrative and visual invention and a great soundtrack, Warm Bodies is far from perfect. The plot does have its holes and conveniences, there is never any doubt as to how it is going to end, certain characters feel rather superfluous and the principal threat and antagonists of ‘the bonies’ feel rather underdeveloped, forced and crammed into proceedings in order to provide a sense of psychical threat, fear and stakes. The fact that they are also obviously entirely computer generated, removes much fear from them, with the more action-orientated nature of the third act not quite living up to the rest of the picture due to its rather forced presence and clunky and rushed execution. The film is at its best when it’s a romantic-comedy that happens to have a zombie and at its worst when it’s trying to be a zombie movie with a little romance.
Overall Warm Bodies is not a perfect film but it is an incredibly unique and charming one. If you’re looking for a fresh spin on the zombie genre, the romance genre, or both, then Warm Bodies may just be the breath of fresh air you are looking for. It moves at a quick pace, lacks pretentions and has a big heart. With it demonstrating relative restraint in regards to its central message, Warm Bodies may just be that zombie film for girls and that romance film for guys.
By Movie Parliament Prime Minister,
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