Directing: B-
Acting: B
Writing: C+
Cinematography: B
Editing: B
Special Effects: B

As sequels go, Zombieland: Double Tap is pretty old-school standard. It reassembles the cast of an original project, rehashes all the same basic plot points, and attempts to up the ante with the humor and/or action, then winds up falling short of its goals on both counts.

The only thing particularly unusual about it is the full decade—to the month—between the release of the original and that of this sequel. Sure, we live in an era when there is no expiration date on sequels, with some coming multiple decades later, but still, by and large, anyone seeking to cash in with a sequel tends to do so within two or three years if they can. And indeed they did try, when the original Zombieland gained a cult following in the years immediately after its release in 2009. Director Ruben Fleischer, along with original co-writers Rhett Reese and Paul Wernick reportedly had to go through several iterations and drafts before all of them, as well as all the stars, could agree on a story concept that was “just right.”

The thing is, I didn’t ever think the original was that great, so it’s not like there was a high bar there. It wasn’t terrible, either; it was fine—I gave it a B-, just as I’m giving this one. My guess is I’d give this one a lower grade it I revisited the original film, but I didn’t bother. I feel confident Double Tap is more enjoyable with the original being a more distant memory. Otherwise it would just feel like a broad rehash. Which it basically is. But, if you just take it for what it is, it’s still entertaining enough.

Still, you might wonder: why the hell did I even bother seeing this one, then? In my case, it’s mostly about the evolving nature of cinema. Ten years ago was many years before anyone even had a thought about monthly subscription services to a movie theater chain. “Apps” and smartphones were still just a few years old then. Now? I pay a monthly fee to see up to three movies at an AMC Theater per week—a threshold I almost never meet—and, so far at least, it’s cheap enough that each month it pays for itself after seeing all of two full-price movies. Beyond that, it’s basically like getting to go to the movies for free. In short, I saw this movie because I had nothing better to do on a Thursday evening, it effectively cost me nothing to do so, and there was nothing better playing. I was tired of zombie movies even by 2009, and I would never have paid a separate ticket price to see this.

I did write in my 2009 review of the original that “this movie will be easily forgotten in no time at all,” and evidently I was wrong about that. I’m inclined to say the same thing of Double Tap, and then double down on the prediction even though I was wrong the first time around. It’s doing okay at the box office for its first week, but gaining a cult following is a lot harder to achieve anymore, with so many quality choices of new entertainment everywhere you look. Who needs to obsessively re-watch anything anymore?

I never needed to re-watch Zombieland, and I’m unlikely ever to find occasion to re-watch Zombieland: Double Tap. For the moment, it’s fun to see the same four core characters—Woody Harrelson as Tallahassee; Jesse Eisenberg as Columbus; Emma Stone as Wichita; Abigail Breslin as Little Rock—in the same universe but aged ten years. Breslin’s change is of course the most dramatic, as she was all of 13 when the first film was released. She kick-starts the plot this time by running off with a hippie named Berkeley (Avan Jogia) who somehow survived all the zombies by being a pacifist and refusing ever to use a gun.

The rest of the gang sets off to find her, now joined by the best new addition this time around, the ditzy “Madison” played by Zoet Deutch. She’s discovered in an abandoned mall having survived by hiding in a refrigerator.

Speaking of which, how does all this electricity keep working, anyway? Simple! A throwaway line explains that continued rain has kept dams running and therefore keeping up hydroelectric power. Don’t such facilities still need people with functioning brains to keep them running? Whatever, it’s just a movie.

There is a sprinkling of fun cameos: Luke Wilson, Thomas Middleditch, Al Roker. Rosario Dawson fills a key supporting role. Bill Murray factors in again, because of course everything that people loved about the original must be revisited. In the end, that’s what makes Double Tap a prototypical sequel: returning to the same well, with diminishing returns. The Bill Murray bit this time around is more exciting than it was before, I’ll give it that. One could argue, however, that novelty has greater value, and you’ll find none of that here.

What you will find is a climactic battle sequence that is preposterous even by this movie’s low standards, but remains fun due to its consistency of spirit. It’s basically a monster truck rally for zombie lovers. And lovers of the original Zombieland will like this one just fine, though no one will say it’s better. It’s a comfortingly amusing hang with old friends who have nothing new to say.

*Maybe in another ten years will get a third one that’s even more blandly entertaining!*

Overall: B-