{"id":630,"date":"2013-03-20T14:16:03","date_gmt":"2013-03-20T18:16:03","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/students.com.miami.edu\/~reviewing\/?page_id=630"},"modified":"2013-03-20T14:18:19","modified_gmt":"2013-03-20T18:18:19","slug":"warm-bodies-surprisingly-lovely-funny","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/students.com.miami.edu\/reviewing\/?page_id=630","title":{"rendered":"‘Warm Bodies’ surprisingly lively, funny"},"content":{"rendered":"

Posted March 20, 2013<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

By ISABEL BRADOR<\/p>\n

The film \u201cWarm Bodies,\u201d delivers exactly what is promised: a darkly humorous and endearing story of a zombie boy who falls in love with a very much alive human girl.<\/p>\n

Nicolas Hoult does a superb job of \u00a0playing the love struck zombie protagonist, R.<\/p>\n

\"warm<\/a>Meanwhile, Teresa Palmer is charming and lively as Julie, the human survivor and R\u2019s unlikely love interest.<\/p>\n

Director Jonathan Levine, also director of the film \u201c50\/50\u201d expands the film beyond the parameters of a quirky love story by adding poignant commentary on society and the human connection.<\/p>\n

The film, which is set in a modern post-zombie apocalypse America, \u00a0begins with an darkly humorous internal monologue by R. The cynical comments and the irony used by Hoult\u2019s character hint at just how dysfunctional modern day relationships and daily interactions between humans can be. Levine\u2019s choice to add this kind of commentary adds depth to the film without making it awkward for audience members who are watching the film just for laughs.<\/p>\n

Besides tongue-in-cheek social commentary on human interactions, the movie also subtly highlights the importance of these relationships. Throughout the film, R slowly begins to transform into a more human version of his zombie self as his contact with the charming and vivacious Julie increases.\u00a0 His interactions with her begin to bring him to life both figuratively and literally.<\/p>\n

Yet, the film manages to somewhat stay true to the zombie genre. There are plenty of bloody and gory scenes and it\u2019s spooky enough to remind viewers that zombies are still dangerous characters.<\/p>\n

Also, the main antagonists in the movie, \u201cBonies,\u201d which are essentially zombies which can never regain their humanity, are creepy enough to get the audience\u2019s adrenaline flowing whenever they appear into a scene.<\/p>\n

Thankfully, the movie manages to be cute and heartwarming without being campy or isolating older audience members. Even the direct allusions to the story of Romeo and Juliet (i.e., when Julie looks down from her bedroom balcony to find R waiting there and the fact the main characters are named Julie and R) are directed in a way that is easy to swallow.<\/p>\n

The only hiccup comes when some scenes are stretched to the point of incredulity.\u00a0 Like when Julie and R go for a joy ride in a convertible on the runway of a zombie-infested airport.<\/p>\n

Overall, \u201cWarm Bodies\u201d is a delightful, funny and heartwarming story and definitely a feel good movie with a feel good message. Movie goers looking for a laugh and a different take on the soon-to-be-overdone zombie theme will be in for a nice evening.<\/p>\n