The Zombie Wedding review
A couple’s love is tested by in-laws, an obsessed suitor, and a zombie outbreak.
New movie reviews will not contain spoilers.
Coming to Video on Demand September 13
The Zombie Wedding
Directed by Micah Khan
Written by Greg D’Alessandro
Starring Deepti Menon, Donald Chang, Krystina Alabado, Cheri Oteri, Christine Spang, Seth Gillam and Siobhan Fallon Hogan
The Zombie Wedding Review
The Zombie Wedding is based on an interactive play. You didn’t hear it from me…but you may be able to find a couple of productions on YouTube. You may be asking why I would attempt to do such a thing. The answer is simple. The movie version of The Zombie Wedding is a fun one. It clearly heads off in its own direction though. This is the first film produced by The Weekly World News, after all. The tabloid plays its own part in the narrative…something that certainly wasn’t happening in the original text. In fact, I’d imagine very little has been taken directly from the play. I’d venture to guess, however, that it retains its two key attributes. A human marrying a zombie…and a surprisingly resonating take on love overcoming all obstacles.
Obstacle is a good way to describe the usage of zombies in The Zombie Wedding. It utilizes the concept much like a romcom would use any number of stresses surrounding one’s wedding day. Those films make a meal out of the disapproving in-law or the rejected love interest keen on ruining the big day. The Zombie Wedding uses both of those too. It just has a bigger, more fun idea to play with.
Ashley (Deepti Menon) and Zach (Donald Chang) are engaged. This happens right at the beginning of The Zombie Wedding. At that point…both are human. Unfortunately, things won’t always be that way. A zombie outbreak is happening in their hometown of Vineland, New Jersey. The Weekly World News has sent its most available reporter Elsa (Christine Spang) and cameraman Frank (Mu-Shaka Benson) to cover the story. When Zach gets bit and turns into a zombie…Ashley’s agreeance on continuing with the nuptials ensures they won’t be leaving town anytime soon.
The Zombie Wedding is full of broad performances. The cast looks like they’re having a blast playing with the light and oddly cheerful tone of the film. It’s an ensemble piece with many familiar faces on hand. Cheri Oteri plays Donald’s disapproving mother. She looks down on Ashley’s family. This continues even after she’s turned into a zombie. Seth Gillam has a field day with the wild haired reverend set to marry the couple. Heather Matarazzo is the head of a zombie taskforce aiming to keep the undead docile. Micky Dolenz of The Monkees fame pops up as the wedding DJ. You’ll recognize actors from classics like The Sopranos and Office Space too.
The zombies here are more human-like than walking corpses. They can talk, retain their personalities and memories. They just…have these crippling cravings for flesh and brains. The zombies can turn feral at a moment’s notice…but can be calmed into a normal state. Zach believes his love for Ashley will protect her. Ashley’s love for him leads her to going through with the big day. At its heart, that’s what this zombie romantic comedy is all about. Whether it be the differences between their families or the full zombie apocalypse spreading around them…love can overcome anything.
It’s also a very silly movie. Instead of leaning into a string of jokes in the style of Airplane, The Zombie Wedding prioritizes a likable, silly tone. Broad characters played against each other in front of a flowered altar. It isn’t presenting zombies vs. humans as a class warfare fable. Some of it is in there. It’s played for comedy not commentary. These zombies were human just days earlier. They know they’re messed up. They don’t want to be what they are…they just can’t control that pesky hunger and stop spreading the virus. Using it as a threat to prevent a wedding is a fun idea.
The wedding movie is a staple of the romantic comedy genre. The stresses associated with the big event provide several opportunities to be turned into laughs. The Zombie Wedding isn’t all that different from those types of movies. Except the groom is dead. And guests keep biting each other. And Zach’s mother hasn’t gotten any less difficult or judgmental now that she is dead. Every wedding has its own unique issues. The Zombie Wedding’s may take the cake.
The Zombie Wedding is a breezy watch with a unique set-up. It doesn’t deliver punchlines as often as you’d expect…but the story goes deeper than you’d think. A likable cast plays things suitably over the top. The Weekly World News represents its brand in a fun, and surprisingly non-self-aggrandizing way. It’s like My Big Fat Greek Wedding with a zombie outbreak instead of whatever happens in My Big Fat Greek Wedding.
Scare Value
Appropriately broad performances highlight a light, breezy horror rom com. The zombie outbreak becomes just another obstacle added to the stress of planning and executing a wedding. The couple has to deal with the usual problems on top of suddenly finding themselves a part of two different worlds. The Zombie Wedding prioritizes a charming tone. The result is a charming movie. It has more to say about love than zombies. That makes it kind of unique.
3/5
The Zombie Wedding Links
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