WARM BODIES: A zombie movie for girls....and this guy.

WARM BODIES is the story of Romeo and Juliet with zombies and people instead the Capulets and the Montagues.  I can't think of any zombie movies where the main character was a shambling incoherent rotting corpse.  That is really cool.  Nicholas Hoult plays a zombie named R who is looking for more in his undead existence than just walking around and eating people.  Things begin to change however when he sees Julie for the first time.  Julie is not a zombie.  She is very much alive but instead of wanting to eat her R falls in love with her.  For some reason she is able to make him feel something for the first time in a long time.  R brings it on himself to protect Julie played by Teresa Palmer from his fellow undead zombies and some skeleton people.

There is a reason why WARM BODIES was previewed in front of BREAKING DAWN part 2 and that is because there really isn't a whole lot that happens in this movie.  That is not to say that WARM BODIES is a bad film.  Quite the contrary.  It is just that this is a romantic comedy, so a good portion of this film is solely focused on the relationship building between R and Julie.  That is the whole reason to watch a film like this in the first place.  And while Nicholas is a very likable zombie he is still a zombie.  The whole plot about R having a hard time trying to get this girl to like him because he is dead kind of gets old.  The film can't help but drag a bit.  WARM BODIES doesn't give you the high energy the trailer promises.  Some of that I believe is due to not using the music more effectively in the film and the writing overall could have been smarter.  Still WARM BODIES is a good film.  It just isn't a great film.

It is nice to see that this isn't a typical boring zombie movie that is bleak and depressing and comes to the same 'zombies take over everything' conclusion that most movies in this category subscribe to.  WARM BODIES gets better and better as the story develops.  We are introduced to neat concepts like eating brains gives zombies the memories of their victims which helps R feel and relate to Julie.  Zombies don't dream because they don't fall asleep so it is exciting to see R have his first dream.  I like how R's love for Julie reminds other zombies on how to live again and that spreads to other zombies bringing them back to life and such.  In the end it is nice to see everything ending on a positive rather than a negative.  WARM BODIES tells a story and ends a story.  It doesn't do that whole leaving it open for a sequel crap.

Even though it could have been better WARM BODIES is still a stand out film for this year due to some creative concepts and positive vibe.  Maybe it is a little to 'TWILIGHT-ish" in a couple of places but it isn't too noticeable.  At one point I did think that Teresa Palmer looked a little too much like Kristen Stewart.  There is just something about her face that is all.  It was just one moment though that quickly passed.  There is also a scene where Julie and her ex-boyfriend are lying in a field looking up at clouds and stuff.  It wouldn't be a romantic movie without that scene, I guess.  I wouldn't really know.  I don't watch too many romance movies.  But if you like romantic comedies and looking for something different then I recommend WARM BODIES.  If you are looking for blood and guts and depressing visions of the future and mankind watch this movie anyways.  It will help your outlook on life.  The characters in WARM BODIES can be looked upon as the various emotional states people get into when dealing with their feelings and love.  But I am a guy and I don't like to get all mushy-gooshy with that stuff.  See it for yourselves and come up with your own conclusions.  Don't take my word for it.  I am just some guy with nothing better to do than write about a rather unique 'chick flick'.  Enjoy.


Jason