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Eventually, Columbus encounters Tallahassee, deliciously played by Woody Harrelson. Harrelson, who seems to relish his role in Hollywood as Dennis Hopper's successor, the drug-fueled outsider, is absolutely ideal in the role. Harrelson's Tallahassee is a cantankerous, drunken, gun-toting, Twinkie-obsessed loner with a past. He drives an Escalade that is the machine shop mashup of a NASCAR mechanic and Mad Max, even going so far as to emblazon Dale Earnhardt's famous #3 on every vehicle he rides in. He and Columbus form the expected unlikely and uneasy pair who may or may not last as they travel to the West coast and promised safety. The exchanges between the two are what give most of the movie's its comedic punch and they rarely fail.

Both Tallahassee and Columbus agree to travel together when they encounter two sisters who have also survived the zombie onslaught, Wichita, played by Emma Stone and Little Rock, played by Abigail Breslin of Signs and Little Miss Sunshine fame. The sisters sole goal is to make their way to the site of their happiest memories. There are rumors of safety there as well.

Each of the characters has funny exchanges with each other. It's this four corner comedy cross fire that really marks Zombieland above other zomedies (and perhaps most other comedies). There is the very funny mini-scene between Breslin and Harrelson who, behaving like generational ambassadors, introduce the other to their respective musical influences - Hannah Montana and Willie Nelson.

Zombieland also surprises occasionally with its Apatow-like character involvement. In small, brief moments we either learn very profound things about the characters' past or watch as they bond. Expectedly, Columbus and Wichita flirt but it's oddly effective and never feels out of step with the rest of the movie. The audience knows it's coming but I never minded the inevitable pairing and it never distracted from the comedy.

The movie also knows its genre and movie history references which it clearly appreciates. There is the very fresh zombie reference to Zombie Strippers, for example, as well as sly hints to Vacation and more obvious nods to Deliverance and Ghostbusters. There are very funny appearances of either iconic Hollywood characters or music stars turned zombies throughout. There are secondary characters, shown in flashbacks, that then appear much later in the film randomly and unrelated as zombies. There is one well talked about cameo that is absolutely fantastic. The way the movie then plays with that cameo, it is clear the creators absolutely adore the actor. As a secret nod to the readers, I suggest you stay past the credits.

Zombieland brings together all its elements into its hilarious finale, set in a amusement park. The movie endslike a zany, adrenaline-fed video game, while the characters obviously have grown and learned from the experience. It's a small triumph that a movie so outright funny can also manage to create lovable and endearing characters. The ending also easily lends itself to a sequel, and we'll be there opening night.

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