All American Zombie Drugs
by Sean Hill
This film follows a long line of the “stoner” genre of films. From the Cheech and Chong movies, the FRIDAY series, HAROLD AND KUMAR and the PINEAPPLE EXPRESS these films are very similar in the depiction of drugs and the people who use them. Although ALL AMERICAN ZOMBIE DRUGS follows that same tradition, it lacks the charm and wit of those films.
The film follows the exploits of Vinnie and Sebastian, two buddies from childhood who are now in their mid-twenties doing the same thing that they were doing in high school. It seems their ambition was to drink constantly and get high which is what spend their time doing. Neither character is likeable so there really isn’t a rooting interest for the audience to become involved with. Sebastian has this annoying habit that when he sleeps he acts out his dreams which all involve him having sex with women. This is how the character is introduced. It’s not funny the first time it is shown and it’s not funny each subsequent time it happens. Vinnie, the more likeable of the two, sees the ghost of his dead brother during the course of the film who serves as his voice of reason. Sebastian’s girlfriend, Kara, hangs out with them as well and she of course spends her time getting high as well. One day the guys run into an old classmate that they used to tease. When it is pointed out to them that they are still in same position in life they were in high school they decide to better themselves by becoming drug dealers. At least they are using their skill set. With the help of Kara’s Goth friend Melissa, who just happened to come into a great deal of money, the group plots to make their dream of being drug dealers come true. In the films on inspired moment Melissa wants the guys to give her a business plan before giving them the money for their venture. It’s a nice touch that the film could have used more of. Another nice moment occurs when Vinnie and Melissa have a quiet moment of bonding about their past. It’s obvious that they have never shared this information with anyone else gives the characters another dimension. At this point it seemed the film was going to do in a different direction, but it abandons this element and returns to the silly tone that it had previous established
As a whole this film just does not work. As a comedy there isn’t a single laugh contained. The actors are decent but not great but with the material not being their there is not much that they could have done to save this film. The plot, as it is, meanders quite a bit and at the end of the day there really is not any meat to the story. There is nothing worse than sitting thru a comedy without any laughs. A comedy should serve for one purpose and one purpose only and that is to make the viewer laugh. Unfortunately, ALL AMERICAN ZOMBIE DRUGS fails in that purpose.
