Warm Bodies is the latest movie to saturate the world with its seemingly never-ending hunger for everything Zombie. The story is unique in presentation and also the way certain things that have never been explored are described. Things such as why do Zombies eat brains, or how do they communicate with one another are just a few of the things that are tackled in Warm Bodies. The love story in it takes notes from other famous love stories, but adds a unique twist to things as well. Now most of you are probably questioning how a Zombie can fall in love, but you just need to leave some things to be explained by the movie, or my review!
Warm Bodies starts off after the Zombie Apocalypse has happened, and the World is being overrun by Zombies. We follow around our main Zombie, R (Nicholas Hoult), who roams around from place to place just observing. R allows us into the mind of a Zombie by using his inner monologue. He tells us that he doesn’t remember much, but uses things to pass the time, and even points out that there are two types of Zombies; those who walk around looking for their next meal, and Bonies. Bonies are Zombies that have given up all hope and no longer have any physical traits that make them look remotely close to human anymore, and they also will attack and eat anything with a heartbeat. The whole setup was humorous, and nicely done. It allows the viewer into the mind of a Zombie; instead of the typical here they come let’s shoot them as we are used to. The fact we now gain a better understanding of a Zombie truly makes the set up enjoyable.
R has a best friend, M (Rob Corddry), who he somewhat communicates with. They can get a word out to each other every now and then, but it’s mainly groans. R tells M that he’s “Hungry” and they make off to find food with a group of other Zombies. Meanwhile, safe inside a guarded area, we see a group of young adults walking together. The group is making their way outside to find supplies needed to help the living survive. The group is led by Perry (Dave Franco), and when his girlfriend, Julie (Teresa Palmer), attempts to hold his hand he quickly recoils and tells her to keep her focus. The group makes their way to a place that they have apparently been before and starts searching for supplies. Julie, inside a building, hears something and is quickly disregarded by Perry as nothing. Well, the group quickly discovers that Julie was right, and is attacked by R, M, and the other Zombies that were in their group.
This whole scene is interesting because it really has the aspects of horror, but it also adds more to the Zombie culture that we previously did not know about. This was explained in my interview with Nicholas Hoult and Teresa Palmer that in Warm Bodies, [Minor Spoiler Alert] when a Zombie eats the brain of a human, they also inherit all that persons memories as well. [End Alert] This is also the scene when R and Julie first meet. How would you feel if a Zombie just stared at you with their dead eyes, and then attempts to help you? Well, that’s the situation Julie was in, but how will this all play out?
READ MY INTERVIEW WITH TERESA PALMER AND NICHOLAS HOULT HERE
R takes Julie back to his place, and does what he can to comfort her. Julie doesn’t quite know what to think about all of this, and the way R communicates with her can be rather confusing. The audience of course has the inner monologue of R going the whole time, but the way Julie reacts tells a different story altogether. The two of them start to somewhat bond, but when R leaves, Julie tries to escape. Now, the following scene is something that most of you will have seen in the trailers with R telling Julie to act like a Zombie, and then tells her “Too Much!” The way everything plays out shows the humor of the movie, and everything that transpires adds more to the development of the relationship between R and Julie.
The only problem with R and Julie is how they explain to their counterparts everything that has transpired in a short amount of time. R meets up with M, and does his best to explain to M the way that he feels and that something has come over him. M at first is troubled by this development, but soon learns and gains greater understanding of everything himself. Shortly after M starts to understand the feelings R is having, there are other Zombies that gain the understanding as well. This is great for them, but could cause problems in the future with the “Bonies.”
Julie and R find a place to lay low, which is until Julie discovers a search caravan, led by her father Grigio (John Malkovich), who is the leader of the humans living inside a barricaded area. Julie quickly understands that she needs to go with her father, and tell him that she is fine, yet try to explain that R saved her and that he is changing. Grigio wants nothing to do with it, and quickly takes Julie back to the safety of the protected area. The following scenes add interest and great intrigue to everything that is going on in the movie. This also adds a different cinematic element.
Now, if you remember, R has memories of the place where Julie is, and he also has memories of how to get in and reunite with Julie. R makes his way into the safety compound, and finds Julie. Julie has been talking to her best friend, Nora (Analeigh Tipton), about R and how he saved her life on several occasions as well as the fact he’s becoming human again. R finally is reunited with Julie and meets Nora. It is now up to Julie and Nora to help disguise R to be able to make his way around the compound without being discovered as a Zombie. This adds another humorous factor to the movie and in a way is homage to Edward Scissorhands.
This is where the movie really hits its stride in moving towards a conclusion. All the questions that one may ask will be answered, and you can enjoy the ride.
Warm Bodies is a fun movie, and definitely can be considered a great date movie. The ride that the audience goes on is unique and fun, while it offers something for everyone. The way the story develops is unique in the way a cure may have FINALLY been found, but will it appeal to ALL audiences? The fact is it may not, but it does have a little something for everyone, and that is what makes Warm Bodies a genuinely fun time at the theater. While it may not be for everyone, it does have a little something that everyone will take away. The movie is quick paced and fun. You will not be bored when the credits roll, and you’ll actually be surprised by how quickly it moves. So, if you’re looking for a movie to go see that has something for everyone, go see Warm Bodies; you won’t be disappointed.
