Zombieland: Double Tap proves why we need to give sequels a chance

After a decade, Tallahassee, Columbus, Wichita, and Little Rock are back with more thrills and kills in Zombieland: Double Tap, and it’s like they never left.

Columbus (Jesse Eisenberg), Tallahassee (Woody Harrelson), Wichita (Emma Stone), and Little Rock (Abigail Breslin) have made a lot of upgrades since we last saw them. They are each even more skilled in zombie killing, but still up to their old ways. Tallahassee and Columbus continue to make us laugh with their bickering, Wichita is still afraid of commitment, and Little Rock is…well, she’s the only one who has drastically changed — and it’s completely understandable!

Little Rock was only a young girl when we saw her last. She’s now older, rebellious, and craving friends her age. It’s Little Rock who sends the crew on an unplanned adventure that completely changes their lives.

Wondering if Zombieland: Double Tap is worth your time? As a fan of the first movie, I say it is. In fact, the more I think about it, the more I love and appreciate the sequel no one asked for. Sequels get a bad rep. Not as bad of a rep as reboots (let’s not even get started on those), but sequels are still not often favorable. I say it’s about time that changes, and Double Tap can help.

Don’t get me wrong, I fully agree that sequels more often than not ruin a good story. Sometimes, it’s best to quit while you’re ahead. But sequels can also expand the story and be better than the original. This isn’t common, I know, but it does happen. Just take a look at the Thor franchise, Ragnarok (movie No. 3) is arguably the best in the series, all John Wick chapters have something amazing to offer, as well. And there are several others.

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Rarely is a sequel better than the original, but should it be a competition? Can’t we just love the original movie and check out a sequel because we miss the characters? If we stopped taking sequels so seriously and instead viewed them as supplements, I bet we would enjoy them even more.

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This isn’t to say Zombieland: Double Tap is “just fun,” this one is actually a winner. It features a lot of the same formula and gags, but works its magic to feel fresh and new, too. The new characters we meet are sprinkled throughout the film to give it a face lift (but don’t get too attached to anyone) and the story the central characters go through is necessary to complete their growth and determine what they want and value most in life.

I do wish Double Tap had explored more of the undead, though. The movie introduces a “new breed” of zombies, clever ones. They are tougher to kill and more determined. Initially, I thought the movie was going somewhere with this, foreshadowing a huge moment with these monsters. Unfortunately, it doesn’t go anywhere and it feels pointless to have even brought them up.

I can’t blame the movie too much, though, the Zombieland movies aren’t here to make us think or wow us with shocks or twists, it’s just here to have a good time and be sure that we do, too. And that mission is well accomplished.

If you loved Zombieland (2009), there’s more where that came from in Double Tap, now playing in theaters everywhere. Will you be watching the movie this weekend?