Hot British chicks, zombies, martial arts, and politeness. Why could have this worked in the funniest way possible? Pride & Prejudice & Zombies is based on the Seth Grahame- Smith novel as it spoofs Jane Austen’s classic literature combining it with zombie action.
Director Burr Steers (Charlie St. Cloud) takes charge with how to definitely screw up a ridiculous book into a ridiculous adaptation. The author of the book also wrote Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter and we all know that movie was pretty bad. Bringing another one of these stories to the big screen won’t make any sort of difference. The Bennet sisters taking on a zombie apocalypse may seem silly and it does. This premise alone didn’t work because it takes a classic like Pride & Prejudice, and makes it sloppy even in translation. The tone and editing were all over the place. Half of it is comedy to serious, which doesn’t make it coherent.
Even the marketing was weird because they pushed did to be a hardcore action movie but didn’t focus on the comedy aspect. This wasn’t even funny and most of the supposed jokes were dry or weren’t noticeable. Lily James was fantastic in last year’s Cinderella and she still proves to be a talented actress as Elizabeth Bennet. She was really good. Sam Riley (Maleficent) as Mr. Darcy was one-note throughout as smug. Most people will love Matt Smith (Doctor Who) in this, but I wasn’t. He just came off as goofy with his performance. The zombie action is fine but they’re far from between with little most of them are in this.
Even for a zombie movie like this, this should’ve gotten an R rating what with the bloody violence that occurred. Seriously. How did this get a PG-13? Going back to tone, it took itself so seriously. This was going on for so long, it feels longer than it sounds. Personally, nothing in this was entertaining. Fans of the book would likely enjoy this, but the people who are into zombies won’t find any pleasure.
Pride & Prejudice & Zombies is just as dumb as its title. Boring, incompetent, and just has no fun with this premise.
Grade: D
DC's Take 