Movie Reviews

‘As We Know It’ review: Zom-com is a pleasant surprise

Focus on characters.

November 16, 2023

As We Know It is a post-apocalyptic zom-com about a struggling writer who is dealing with a breakup. But with the zombie apocalypse upon them, James (Mike Castle) and his best friend Bruce (Oliver Cooper) have to concentrate on survival. When ex-girlfriend Emily (Taylor Blackwell) arrives, things become more complicated.

In the vein of most films from the sub-genre, the script focuses more on the character than the scares. As We Know It does this by concentrating on the friendship between James and Bruce. There is a strong bond between the pair that helps flesh them out while bringing gravity to their situation. It helps that Castle and Cooper have great chemistry.

As We Know It does not just depend on the three leads to carry things, however. There is a strong supporting cast, with Chris Parnell and Pam Grier making appearances. The dialogue-heavy script also manages to keep audiences engaged, which is tougher than it sounds since audiences may be expecting more elements of horror or chaos.

Strong performances carry the humor. Cooper stands out in a role that could easily have been more obnoxious than funny. The style of humor may not be for everyone, but it is never grating. Much like the plot, the jokes are set in the 1990s. Even the tone feels like one of the slacker comedies that were so popular during that decade.

As We Know It is a paint by numbers zombie comedy that will garner some laughs. The film wisely decides to essentially put the monsters in the background while focusing on the people involved.. This makes for a story that will feel a little familiar at times but never derivative.