Score: 4/5
Ah yes, I remember when this movie was first announced all the way back in 2011. People cried fowl at the thought of a zombie romance movie and many even went so far as to call it "Twilight with Zombies." Even I was a bit skeptical. However, as more was revealed about the film, I began to gain quite a bit of interest. Having seen it, I am happy to say that "Warm Bodies" exceeded my initial expectations, and the result is a sweet, often funny romantic comedy.
Based on the book of the same name (written by Isaac Marion), "Warm Bodies" tells the story of a young zombie, later named "R" (played very enthusiastically by Nicholas Hoult) stuck in a mental purgatory. R spends his life wandering around a post-apocalyptic world with only his thoughts and other zombies who can barely speak to keep him company. In a witty and well-delivered opening narration, he explains that he can barely remember what life used to be like before the apocalypse. He can't remember what caused it, what his life was like, who his parents were, or even his own name (though he does believe it starts with an R).
It is in this opening scene when we get a true sense of what R's life is like. His often humorous narration of this scenario keeps the tone of the film somewhat upbeat, even though his situation of being alone with only his thoughts is truly tragic. I could instantly relate to his feeling of loneliness, as who doesn't feel lonely sometimes. Loneliness truly does feel like you're dead and alone with your own thoughts, so perhaps the whole zombie element of the plot was one big metaphor for unwanted solitude.
When the zombies develop enough symptoms, they become gruesome skeleton-like creatures called "bonies" (see below). These creatures, unlike zombies, will kill anything with a heartbeat without feeling any sort of remorse about it. The bonies most likely represent people who have given up on love and live the rest of their lives in despair.
Everything changes when R and a few other zombies search for human flesh to eat. They come across a hideout with survivors and attack. With little memory of the old world, R instantly falls in love with a survivor named Julie (Played by Theresa Palmer). Immediately afterwards, R inadvertently eats the brain of her boyfriend, Perry (played by Dave Franco). The only way that R can relive memories of the old world is by eating peoples' brains and thereby consuming their memories. By eating Perry's brain, he learns Julie's name and uses that to start developing a trust with her.
This is the only aspect I felt was a bit weak. The fact that the zombies in this film can consume memories is a rather interesting story element, though it doesn't really come into play through most of the film. It mainly exists to develop R's sense of guilt for killing Julie's boyfriend, which is important to the story, but I personally felt it could have been used to a greater effect. Perhaps R could find out who he used to be by consuming the brains of people who knew him. Oh well, it's not really that big of a problem here, and it's not something that bothered me while watching it.
After helping her escape the attack, R and Julie bond together. R tries his hardest to act human and gradually forms a friendship with Julie.The scenes of R and Julie are honestly sweet without being to saccarine. R comes across as a likable hero victimized by his zombie-condition and Julie, while occasionally bratty, learns to accept him.
Throughout the rest of the film, R's relationship with Julie will grow stronger, and this is revealed to help cure his zombie condition. It's a rather sweet statement on how love is the best cure for loneliness. But as the climax approaches, the plot thickens. R's exposure to love makes him a target for the bonies. Will R cure his condition? Will Julie discover that R killed her boyfriend? Will the bonies consume our heroes? For a romantic comedy, this is quite a lot of conflict.
I suggest to anybody who hates romantic comedies to give this movie a shot; as it is proof that the genre can be done well. And if you like romantic-comedies, this one is hands-down a must-see. "Warm Bodies" is a classic tale of beauty and the beast...& zombies. It's a unique film excellently adapted by acclaimed screenwriter Johnathan Levine and led by a stellar performance by Nicholas Hoult. It's absolutely my pick for the best non-Oscar movie in theaters right now.
