MOVIE REVIEW - Warm Bodies

Occasionally a movie comes out that looks so much like one thing, but actually is so much another. That is the new Warm Bodies, which opened up number one at the box office.

In this current film climate where we are so over-vampired, over witchcrafted and over zombied, it's good to have one that actually has something to say.  Warm Bodies is a zombie movie that looks kind of silly, but turns out to be a pretty smart, and creative flick.   It also does not rely on virtually any special effects, and relies far more on smart writing, that is slick, creative, funny, and very well thought out.

This is a very strange little movie.  It again deals with a post-apocalyptic world where zombies have taken over the world in essence.  No one really knows how it happened, but zombies walk the world feeding on the brains of people that are still alive of course.   Julie (Teresa Palmer) a beautiful young girl finds herself in the middle of the zombies, and R (Nicholas Hoult)  who himself is a zombie, saves her from being eaten by the others.   As he protects her for a few days in the safety of his hideout, he finds that his "zombie-ism" is starting to reverse itself, and he starts a process of becoming the young man he used to be.   Julie and R develop a deep friendship as R slowly becomes human again.  And is it possible that romance could be up the road for these two from completely different worlds?

Then it is noticed that many of the other zombies are returning to human status as well. Seems that the emotions, and the lack of love is the key for zombies remaining zombies. The movie takes a nice turn and tells a story that love can conquer all, even being a zombie.   Of course this is simplified, but Warm Bodies does make a nice social statement or two.  About loving each other, prejudice and acceptance.

This movie is very well written, with a real nice mix of drama, young love, and humor.   There is some real fun here, as Julie and R try to bridge the gap between life and death.  Both Hoult and Palmer are great young faces on the screen that develop a real nice chemistry under highly unusual circumstances.   Palmer especially lights up the screen with a huge smile and a real nice "way" about her.  There is a nice supporting cast, and a few side plots to keep you in the game.

Warm Bodies is not going to rewrite cinematic history by any means, but this is pretty fun and innovative.   This is a decent mid-winter release that is a pleasant surprise, at a time when we really need one.  This is a nice break from all the winter action movies out there.  There is some blood, and some mild violence, but in the end, it's a fun little, strange quirky love story.

Warm Bodies. Fun. What a surprise!!