BURYING THE EX (review)

Review by Stefan Blitz

Filmmaker and cinegeek royalty director Joe Dante (Gremlins, Innerspace, The Howling) disappoints in this derivative and disappointing entry into the already overcrowded zombie genre.

Anton Yelchin plays Max, a horror geek with dreams of opening his own horror themed store.  He’s dating the overbearing and possessive Evelyn, played Ashley Greene.

A convenient devil wish doll ensures that Max and Evelyn will be together forever, that is until Evelyn is hit and killed by a bus, freeing Max from the albatross and opening the way for him to date Olivia, owner of the horror themed ice cream shop, “I Scream”.

And then, Evelyn comes back as a zombie and expects Max to be with her forever (and ever).

Which is exactly what the running time of this film felt like.

Unlike other Dante films, this one’s sluggish.

Known for his talent and skill to juggle comedy and scares, Dante fails to do either here.  The script, which is an expanded version of a short previously written and directed by screenwriter Alan Trezza, was championed by Dante as being, “funny and different”.

Unfortunately, it’s neither.

Reminiscent of Bob Balaban’s 1993 film My Boyfriend’s Back and last year’s Life After Beth, Burying The Ex feels stale.

Especially if you’ve seen Warm Bodies, Death Becomes Her, Idle Hands, Shaun of The Dead, Zombieland and Paranorman; all of which handle comedy and zombie far better.

The underwritten script is at least well serviced by Yelchin and Daddario, who have a nice chemistry with one another.  Less successful is Ashley Greene, who is neither funny nor particularly appealing in any capacity.

Burying The Ex is an addition to Dante’s filmography that’s better left six feet under.