If World War Z was based on a true story and released this fall, it would be this year's Argo. I never thought Argo was a Best Picture caliber movie, and neither is World War Z, but the new Brad Pitt movie is better than the Ben Affleck one. Pitt plays Gerry Lane, a retired U.N. worker forced to find the cause and cure to a mysterious disease that's quickly turning humans around the world into rabid zombies.
While the apocalyptic vibe throughout the movie feels familiar, its tonal shifts from drama to action and suspense are well balanced and stand out"”other than the zombies themselves. I don't usually get scared in movies, but these fast-moving creatures should make you uneasy. No Walking Dead slow-pokes here. However, some of their mannerisms may unintentionally make you laugh as well.
Like Argo, World War Z lacks fully developed characters. But, hey! It's a summer movie! Who cares? Brad Pitt"”long hair"”Whoo! However, if this film were released this fall, David Morse would have been the Alan Arkin Best Supporting Actor nominee for his five minute scene as an ex-CIA nut with all the answers. Overall, World War Z has a solid cast that camouflages the lack of character development. But the movie's ultimate flaw lies with consistency in its storytelling.
You are led to believe that no place on earth is safe. Anyone anywhere is at risk. But the movie plays it safe with certain characters"”unintentionally creating them into an afterthought"”which makes them boring despite their solid performances.
Hollywood gets it right by releasing World War Z as summer entertainment. It would be fascinating to see World War Z marketed as a potential Oscar contender. But until this world is actually struck with the zombie flu, summer movies like this will never get the love Affleck got for Argo"”an entertaining movie with summer box office results"”that is now last year's Schindler's List.
