Director: Jonathan Levine
Screenplay: Jonathan Levine
Starring: Nicolas Hoult, Teresa Palmer, Rob Corddry, John Malkovich
Synopsis is here
A recent episode of the MAMO podcast in a throwaway comment about
the box office, placed a simple what if that really struck me until I found
myself sat in the fourth row awaiting Warm Bodies to start. In reference to
some studios knee jerk reactions to "underwhelming" box office, the
hosts posed the simple question: What if the twilight series stopped after one?
The first entry
(2008) entered the market and made a respectable chunk of box office
change (Over $300 million). But it's the sequels that really opened eyes (and
wallets) with the second film, New Moon, making enough money to clear a third
world debt. Summit Entertainment had unlocked a box office "secret":
teenage girls enjoy going to the movies too (also called the
Titanic equation). Since the series ended, it's no surprise that the
fantasy female teen market seems to be a big thing these days. It's no surprise
that Hollywood harboured it's energies into the likes of The Hunger Games
(2012). So when something like Warm Bodies hits the silver screens, it's quite
clear that it's not aimed at me at all. Despite this; like the brains that lead
Zombie 'R' (an industrious Nicolas Hoult) pleasingly snacks on, Warm Bodies is
easily digestible fodder. For an outsider, the film is not as painful
as one might think.
For me, Warm
Bodies is mostly due to the charm of Hoult, who throws himself into a role that
is tougher than you think at first glance. Inspired by the physical acting
of Jonny Depp's Edward Scissorhands, 'R' is a performance that garners
expression from the expressionless. Combined with a dry and witty narration
from Hoult, 'R' really carries the film, coming off as a undead Wall-E (check
his hoarding skills), 'R' is a much more active protagonist than I ever
expected, showing more passion than so many recent heroes. Hoult and the
screenplay's often humorous observations, do well to paper over the films
weaker points. As amusing as Warm Bodies is, it happily trundles along
blissfully unaware that the films meet-cute overstays its welcome. So much so
that you release that the film lacks not only a second act, but any real
lasting conflict. Warm Bodies may not be Shakespeare however, when
your film alludes to Romeo and Juliet, it's important to remember that conflict
and strive is vital.
When Warm Bodies
focuses on anything other than the musings of its main zombie, it beings to
suffer. It's leading lady Julie (Teresa Palmer) turns from outgoing battle
chick to thankless distressed maiden trophy extraordinary quickly,
while the films last act is one brought on with very little build up or risk.
Director Jonathan Levine has tread similar teen waters before, but
with denser narratives and stronger themes. Due to the films target
audience, Warm Bodies does much to sanitise the very fact that it's a romance
about dead people. Anyone looking for any real depth in the subject (if you are
a little bit odd) would be better off getting hold of the likes of Dellamorte
Dellamore (AKA Cemetery Man) or otherwise.
But if you know of
the previously mentioned title, you probably won't be too bothered with Warm
Bodies, a film which is much more primed to give the Twilight crowd another
supernatural fix of the zombie flavour. For me, I was relatively entertained by
the undead antics of Hoult and co. Interestingly; I was told afterwards that
the novel is not a humorous one. I must say thank goodness the film injected laughs;
otherwise this review would have ended on a much more sour note.
