By Jack Walters
Having a good night out is not as easy or cheap as it was. You cant drink and drive. Taxis are expensive. Public transport isnt cheap, either, and can be unpredictable, inconveniently timetabled and intimidating, especially late at night. Tickets for entertainments are pricey, especially if a whole-family outing is involved. Eating out can cost a small fortune, and theres no guarantee youll even enjoy the food.
Instead of all that, why not treat yourselves to a good night in at home? Theres much to recommend it.
Having a night in rather than night out means no travel costs, delays, or frustrations. With all the excellent drama, documentaries and comedy on television, there is cheap entertainment for all the family. In fact, some comedy TV is better than watching the same performers live in a theatre. You get a clearer view, see them close-up and can even replay if you miss the punch line. And there are no irritating strangers in the next seats. Your favourite refreshments are constantly on tap at your own supermarket prices, and you dont have to queue for the loo in the interval. You can wear your comfy flip-flops and pyjama bottoms, and can lounge or snuggle up on the sofa whenever you like. And if you want more company, you can invite friends round to watch too, at no extra cost. In fact, with the great comedy series on TV now, you may well decide to make a good night in an enjoyable habit.
Article written on behalf of UKTV. Find out more information on Comedy tv , Comedy television , Comedy series
How The Art Of The Unspoken Word Can Be Funny
Movie review for Zombieland
By Mr D Stevens
This is a very amusing horror comedy, in the vein of Shaun of the Dead, that focuses on a similar world where everyone or most of the world is a zombie.
We meet Columbus (everyone in the movie calls themselves by places instead of real names) played by Jesse Eisenberg (he has one of those faces you are sure you have seen somewhere but can’t quite identify where) who is one of the last surviving humans in the U.S. and has developed a variety of rules to staying alive such as limbering up before going into any vicinity where zombies may be around, keeping his heart fit, and always taking care when at his most vulnerable i.e. when in the toilet.
We also get flashbacks to unfortunate victims who fell to the zombie plague, all through the opening credits,. It turns out Columbus only survived because he kept to himself, and only found out about the plague, when a lovely girl came knocking at his door, complaining that a tramp had sprinted at her, at first she thought he was chasing someone, but when he reached her he bit her. Columbus was more interested that such a lovely girl would be at his door, and was stroking her hair as she fell asleep when inevitably she turned into a zombie and started lunging at him.
Columbus happens to bump into Tallahassee played by Woody Harrelson (No country for old men), there is a amicable stand-off where the pair think each other is a zombie and wait for any hints at humanity before introducing one another. Together they plan on going to Columbia where Columbus has a faint hope his parents may still be alive, as he puts it, he is a loner who didn’t appreciate those who cared about him or anyone in particular when the world was OK, but now just seeing a familiar face would make things a lot more easier.
On their way to helping Tallahassee find a Twinky, with Tallahassee’s usual antics of antagonising the zombies with loud noises so they come out and get the customary treatment with whatever he happens to have in hand, they bump into two sisters, Wichita played by the gorgeous Emma Stone (The House Bunny) and Little Rock played by the lovely Abigal Breslin (Little Miss Sunshine) who luckily are still alive, but trick them into taking their ammunition and their vehicle.
Of course they inevitably meet again, after the car they have stolen from Columbus and Tallahassee breaks down, and are forced on a road trip together, but not before Tallahassee and Columbus find a vehicle containing plenty of ammunition to which Tallahassee says “Thank God for rednecks”.
As they pass by Hollywood, Tallahassee decides to take them to the home of a superstar (as he puts it even bigger than Tom Cruise). There is a lovely cameo by Bill Murray (Ghostbusters) playing himself, he happens to dress up as a zombie to fit around, and he even joins them re-enacting scenes from Ghostbusters.
Columbus meanwhile is beginning to fall for Wichita, who equally has trust issues, and Tallahassee is still after that Twinky.
It is a hilarious horror-comedy, many will like instantly.
Mr D Stevens is a reviewer at Movie reviews
