Warm Bodies - Jonathan Levine

by Broken Headphones Who would've thought that a zombified twist on "Romeo & Juliet" would turn out to be one of the most surprisingly enjoyable films of the year? Well, I sure didn't, but director and writer Jonathan Levine proved that such a crazy concept could be done with plenty of charm, style, emotion, and wit to spare. Never opting to go the standard "Twilight" route, this quirky post-apocalyptic romance really draws us into its story with a sense of self-aware humor that's rarely ever seen in many teen flicks. It also heavily borrows from the John Hughes playbook to great effect, mixing authentic depth and adolescent awkwardness with a sentimental eye for detail. But more than anything, "Warm Bodies" is a consistently entertaining comedic romp that takes full advantage of its well-rounded cast, as well as its wacky paranormal premise. Sure, the script stumbles at times, but when it works, it really works.

Based on the best-selling young adult novel by Isaac Marion, the movie, which takes place sometime after the future zombie apocalypse, follows R (Nicholas Hoult), a young and oddly introspective member of the living dead who spends most of his time wandering around an abandoned airport with other hordes of zombies, simply waiting for the next meal to present itself. But on a feeding encounter with a human gathering party, R meets a beautiful girl named Julie (Teresa Palmer), and feels an urge to protect her. What occurs next is the beginning of a strangely warm relationship that causes R to start gaining back his humanity. As this change begins to spread throughout the undead population, Julie and R eventually find they're facing a larger issue even as their friendship is seriously tested. Caught between the paranoid human forces and the ferocious "Bonies" (who are a mutual threat), our heroes must find a way to bridge the sides to fight for a better world no one thought possible.

I'll admit, that synopsis does sound a bit corny, and in some ways it is, but thanks to the terrific performances of its cast, the flick manages to be both engaging and heartfelt without ever succumbing to the overbearing sappiness that typically plagues most teen romances. Hoult is simply hysterical as the movie's awkwardly witty zombie protagonist R. Most of the dialogue we hear from him is actually in the form of narration inside his head, and the observational humor he points out about life as one of the undead is consistently clever, a lot more so than you might think. Even when Palmer, the love interest, enters into the story, we always feel emotionally attached to R, not just because of his natural likability, but also because we really want him to get the girl and succeed in the end, despite nearly all the odds being stacked against him. And while Hoult and Palmer may not exactly share the most believable chemistry on screen, their personalities definitely shine brighter and work better to their advantage. Besides the two lead stars, though, this film greatly benefits just as much from the supporting performances of Analeigh Tipton, Rob Corddry, and Dave Franco. But even their secondary characters are no match for John Malkovich's surprisingly self-serious role as the high-ranking general and overprotective father of R's human girlfriend, Julie. His character may be a bit of a cliché, but he commits to it with such fervency and passion and that you eventually begin to believe he's the real deal. The script, while it often meanders more often than not, still knows just how and when to get back on track when it truly needs to. And I've gotta say, this movie's soundtrack is just the icing on the cake. You can never go wrong with Guns N' Roses and Bob Dylan, am I right? That, along with the cast's memorable performances, are just enough to make up for the so-so digital effects and overuse of zombie puns.

While it most likely won't be in the race to win any Oscars anytime soon, "Warm Bodies" still stands as one of the better films to be released so far in 2013. With its unique paranormal twist on the classic Shakespearean tale we all know, this sweet ode to teen romance and decaying corpses goes beyond the predictable trappings of its premise to deliver a bloody fresh twist on the zombie genre altogether. It can even be compared to flicks like "Shaun of the Dead" and "Zombieland" in the way it mixes comedy and horror with consistent wit and endearing nostalgia. In the end, this is a well- executed love story that remains fun and quirky from start to finish thanks to the strengths of its charming cast, authentic emotion, and sharply-timed humor. Whether you love comedies, romances, zombies, or all three, "Warm Bodies" is a delightful cinematic treat that doubles as a solid date flick, the kind that both can enjoy together. If you haven't seen it yet, I strongly suggest giving it a rent. Trust me, it's worth your time.

by Crazy monkey35 Apple make it happen!

by Mac J Savi First, if you love 80's music then you'll dig the tunes in this movie. The music spoke volumes. I really enjoyed the use of music.

The movie itself was a great play on Romeo and Juliet. Nicholas Hoult was excellent as R. He gave him a voice with his eyes and facial expressions. I thought it was a sweet love story, and Issac Marion used this love story as commentary on our dependency on electronics and solitary existence as an extension of those electronics.

It's a great movie. If you don't buy it at least give it a chance by renting it. .

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