Movie Recommendation: "Warm Bodies" Starring Nicholas Hoult

Photo Credit: Summit Entertainment

Rrrrrrrrrrrrr
.....................Rrrrrrrrrr
Rrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr
.................Rrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr

That is how some zombies communicate in the upcoming film Warm Bodies. I suppose the only other people who might know what they are talking about are pirates. The film is, surprisingly, a zombie romantic comedy and showcases the power of love like never before. After a so-called zombie apocalypse of unknown origin, the undead are sealed off from their human counterparts. However, intermingling of the species still sometimes occurs and usually ends badly for the humans, as the shuffling zombies are tough to kill and enjoy feasting on human flesh and organs. During one such encounter, a zombie known as "R" (who also serves as narrator and cannot remember his name, but he knows it starts with an R), kills and then devours the brain of a young man, Perry (Dave Franco), and then proceeds to fall in love with Perry's girlfriend, Julie. Perry's brain allows R (Nicholas Hoult) to possess his memories and feelings, which initially sparks the attraction to Julie (Teresa Palmer).

Even more important is the fact that R's heart begins beating again, thanks to Julie's presence. As a result, he saves her from being killed by the other zombies and takes her to a safe location, inside an airplane, where they become acquainted. Julie is, of course, scared to death, but she is able to overcome her fear by helping R speak more clearly and getting to know him better. She is literally helping him change from zombie to human again. R also relies on music, including the songs "Patience" by Guns N' Roses and "Hungry Heart" by Bruce Springsteen, to deal with his feelings for Julie. He is falling in love, while Julie is not sure what to make of the recent bizarre series of events. R and Julie face a difficult journey that is filled with threats from other zombies, as well as her own father, General Grigio (John Malkovich), who leads the crusade to eliminate the undead. However, R's transformation leads other zombies to begin to heal as well, prompting hope for a cure and the possibility for R and Julie to have a future together.

Writer/director Jonathan Levine has crafted a romantic, well acted and surprising film in Warm Bodies. My interest in the film was sparked by Nicholas Hoult, who has been delivering consistently good work since his role as Tony Stonem in the British television series Skins, and the commanding John Malkovich, who never disappoints. Hoult humanizes R as the film moves along and captures the hearts of viewers along the way. The sacrifices that he makes for Julie are truly romantic and viewers will root for the couple to overcome their problems and differences and find a way to be together. Of course, Teresa Palmer is the other half of that coin and she infuses Julie with warmth, patience and understanding, as she finds herself falling for someone quite different from her previous boyfriends. That is called the power of love and it is expressed honestly through Levine's pitch perfect screenplay.

Warm Bodies opens on February 1.