WARM BODIES (12A)

Comedy/Horror/Romance/ Action. Nicholas Hoult, Teresa Palmer, Analeigh Tipton, Rob Corddry, John Malkovich, Dave Franco. Director: Jonathan Levine.

Love is blind. In Jonathan Levine’s post-apocalyptic romantic comedy based on the blackly humorous book by Isaac Marion, it’s certainly a little cross-eyed as a feisty teenager sparks an unexpected attraction to a zombie.

Warm Bodies is a refreshing twist on Romeo And Juliet, enhanced with solid digital effects to unleash an army of ravenous skeletons known as “bonies” in action sequences that punctuate the burgeoning affections of these unlikely star-crossed lovers.

The film opens in the aftermath of the terrible epidemic, which has reduced most of the population to shuffling corpses incapable of speech or feeling.

Survivors of the disaster are crammed inside a high-walled metropolis patrolled by General Grigio (John Malkovich) and his gun-toting troops.

The general’s feisty teenager daughter, Julie (Teresa Palmer), ventures into the dead zone with her boyfriend Perry (Dave Franco) and best friend Nora (Analeigh Tipton), where they come under attack from zombie buddies R (Nicholas Hoult) and M (Rob Corddry).

R kills Perry and devours the boyfriend’s brain, which transfers memories of Julie.

Something stirs within the zombie and he rebels against his carnivorous nature to protect the terrified girlfriend from the marauding hordes. Romance catalyses a remarkable physical transformation in R, suggesting there might be a cure to the plague.

Warm Bodies is surprisingly sweet, anchored by an endearing performance from Hoult as the shuffling predator, who hankers for the glory days of vinyl and his favourite 1980s power ballad, Missing You by John Waite.

Screen chemistry with Palmer is believable, and the central romance is nuzzled by warm and colourful turns from Tipton, Corddry and Malkovich in slightly underwritten supporting roles.

Levine casts a nostalgic, rosy glow over the post-apocalyptic gloom, earning a 12A certificate despite occasional explosions of flesh-ripping violence.