28 Weeks Later
Honey I Ate the Kids!
Fine the joke here is easy, but I have to go for it. 28 Days Later, 28 Weeks Later, 28 Months Later, 28 Years Later, 28 Decades Later, 28 Centuries Later, 28 Millennium Later and so on. It has that feel to it, doesn’t it? I thought the first film in the series, 28 Days Later was edgy and unique and breathed so much needed life into the tired old zombie flick. However, 28 Weeks Later, while entertaining, just doesn’t have the raw edge of the original. Maybe too many suits injected themselves into the process. I don’t know, but what happens with 28 Weeks Later is sort of a shame, as the film has a feel of “hey what would a Disney film in Hell look like?”
Let’s stop and look at the key problem with this film, which is namely that it is a family horror film. What you ask, a family horror film? And you would be right to ask what, as it makes no sense. Okay, the team of folks it took to write 28 Weeks Later did a decent job tracking the impact that the plague has on one nuclear family, but it just doesn’t feel right and I doubt this is what the fans wanted. The film end up feeling like “Honey I Ate the Kids.” Of all the possible stories to explore this is what they went with? Interesting. The motive is obvious, have the story appeal to children, perhaps to hook the preteen audience for the coming sequels, essentially marketing to children, which is all the rage, no pun intended. But it doesn’t work, as the 28 Weeks Later abandons its true audience, who don’t want forced family drama inserted into their zombie flick. Brains eating zombies meets family film? No.
Obviously, by now you realize that we follow a family as they try to escape a zombie outbreak. Unless you didn’t see the first film and in that case my bad, here is some background. Virus causes zombies, they eat flesh, and both films take place in the UK, and now you’re up to date, let’s move on. Robert Carlyle (Donald) does a great job as zombie dad, normally I don’t give any major facts away, but he converts to the zombie lifestyle early on in the film. What is a major surprise is that even though Carlyle receives top billing you really don’t see that much of him in the film after the first act. In fact Carlyle spends most of the movie popping up like that annoying Microsoft Paperclip think, only this one eats brains and is covered in blood. Regardless, Carlyle pops up from time to time, covered in blood, acts completely, totally, utterly bat-sh*t and then the film turns its attention back to the survival of two the simultaneously dumbest and bravest children in cinema history.
The plot basically follows the Alice and Andy, Donald’s children as they take it upon themselves to act as agents of the Apocalypse, unintentionally of course. Brace yourself now, these children are sent back into London with 15,000 other crazy souls to repopulate the city after it has been sanitized of zombies. These wonderful children then proceed to be crazy/brave enough to go out of the protected region of the city and into the ghost city to get some meaningless crap from their old house. Seriously? I’ve met some really dumb kids but really? One thing leads to another and they set the virus loose again. Luckily for these idiots they happen to be immune to the zombie causing virus and a disease specialist and a sniper try to get them out of London, which is having a really bad day between the zombies and firebombing to try and kill the zombies.
Is the film fun? Why yes, it is quite fun, but it also quite a bit dumber than the original and that is just too bad as the original was a great ride. While the first film was a real hit with about $90 million coming in worldwide, the sequel faired far less well bringing in about $50-60 million. Considering the name recognition of this property, 28 Weeks Later is dangerously close to flop category. Hopefully, director/writer Juan Carlos Fresnadillo and all else involved will get this promising franchise back on track for the sequels.
Story C The story is full of logic errors and holes. For example, would anyone in their right mind, really let children back into the city so soon after an outbreak of something as seemingly serious, as oh I don’t know, a FREAKIN’ ZOMBIE VIRUS?! Great parenting, urban planning and political decision-making, don’t you think? Why not just open up a Michael Jackson Daycare Center too?!
Acting B+ Gee, judging the acting in a zombie film, is pretty tough. The non-zombie acting is good; the zombie acting is excellent, as you really get a sense of how angry and hungry the zombies happen to be. Great acting really, I wanted to rip into my own arm they made all that human flesh seem so tasty.
Visuals B+ 28 Weeks Later has a wealth of great visuals and shots, including a marvelous helicopter rescue scene.
Originality/Innovation C+ Despite the massive set back of focusing on two insane children, 28 Weeks Later is still a cut above most of the competition.
Enjoyability Grade B+ Family oriented zombie film, well that’s just goofy, but its still good fun.
Home Theater/HD Factor A What a great film to watch in HD.
Overall Grade B- 28 Weeks Later does just enough to warrant a decent grade, while disappointing, there may still be hope for the future.
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