Review - Warm Bodies

On DVD and Blu Ray - "Warm Bodies" - If potential viewers will understand going in that this is a PG-13 rated Rom-Com... with Zombies, then they shouldn't find themselves dismayed in the overall lack of blood and gore. In the story, a boy meets a girl and refuses to eat her... I'm not so sure that relationship would last very long in the real world. It's a strangely light-hearted and good-natured zombie re-fashioning of Romeo & Juliet that somehow works- it's a little undercooked and could have benefited from a snazzier visual style, but worth a look for those interested. 

Rising star Nicholas Hoult (X-Men: First Class) portrays "R", a member of the undead stuck in the everyday grind of wandering the landscape searching for brains.  His work here is amiable enough, though confined by breezy material.  With that, Hoult is a talent to keep tabs on- sooner or later, the young man is going to snag an iconic role which will make him a household name (his "Hank McCoy/Beast" in the the revamped X-Men franchise isn't quite what I have in mind in regards to "iconic"...). 

"R's" joyless world is turned downside-up when he rescues an attractive member of the living in "Julia", played by Teresa Palmer.  Falling for the young lady reignites some kind of inner ember in the young Zombie's soul and he slowly, but surely, shows signs of life.  In a perfect world, the easy on the eyes Palmer (Take Me Home Tonight) would be getting all the roles that Kristen Stewart is landing (I bring up the Twilight actress because of their striking resemblance to one another).  She's good, but not great- that's leagues better than I've seen from Stewart.

The comedic talents of Rob Corddry (Hot Tub Time Machine) are wasted as he has less than 10 lines (with multiple words) throughout, as "R's" friend, "M"- I'm not so sure why he would have even been considered for such a role, given his natural talent for quick-witted zingers. John Malkovich (In The Line Of Fire) fans may be disappointed to find that the eccentric actor has been reduced to little more than a (well-armed) father-figure as the leading member of a fortified human enclave.      

Analeigh Tipton (Crazy Stupid Love) and Dave Franco (21 Jump Street) have brief roles as Julia's confidant and ex-boyfriend, respectively.

Jonathan Levine (50/50) is an efficient Director, yet I can't really pinpoint anything, for better or worse, that stylistically sets him apart.  With a little bit of added flair, Warm Bodies could have been a very good companion piece to 2009's Zombieland.  There is a somewhat fresh take on the reasoning behind why Zombies crave the brains of the living, with the victim's grey matter temporarily infusing the Zombie with the memories locked therein- sorta like the effects of your favorite upper.

The Zombies and Humans in this tale share a common threat; CGI-rendered, skeletal creatures referred to as "Bonies" (C'Mon, Man, couldn't you guys have come up with a better name for 'em?).  It's never really established why either group should fear the damned things other than they look rather wicked.

Expect a solid soundtrack and a happy ending that might have the more cynical viewers rolling their eyes.  This movie will undoubtedly be remembered more for it's premise than for it's execution- it's a rainy-day rental that will probably find more of an accepting audience in younger females.

7.0 out of 10