First, if you haven’t seen the movie or read the book, bookmark this page, watch it or read it, and then come back. I’ll happily wait right here for you.
You’re back? Great! Let’s get on with it.
Now, I’m assuming you’re familiar with the storyline, so I don’t want to hear that I spoiled the magnificent ending or revealed some key detail. Deal? Remember you just said you read the book and/or watched the movie. 🙂
OK, here’s why I believe Warm Bodies is a monstrously good romance story:
1 – Setting the stage
You lose yourself fast in this immersive zombie apocalypse story. The images and words of this expressive zombie named R make everything seem pretty damn real.
Even before the actual zombie apocalypse hits, the scene at the beginning of the movie where people are acting like zombies—paying attention only to their smartphones—is pure genius!
2 – A strong, inspiring couple
R and Julie (and yes, it plays on Romeo and Juliet, and yes, there’s a balcony scene to boot), our hero and heroine, are both vulnerable and emotional and fearless when it comes to one another.
R stands against his own kind, protecting Julie from various zombie attacks while Julie returns the favor, defending and protecting R from her overprotective and strict father.
Both are just as strong as the other, in this mess of a situation until the end.
3 – The proper romance trope
From the moment R kills Julie’s boyfriend, Perry, and eats his brain, R experiences everything Perry had and that includes his fondness for Julie. It’s at that very moment something changes for R, and he consciously decides to spare Julie from the attack they’re currently in the midst of.
After gaining her trust, she eventually heals his zombie infection with true love and miraculously his heart beats again. Awwww. So sweet!
4 – Intimate scenes between our hero and heroine
Whether it’s in R’s cozy airplane hideaway listening to tunes or Julie’s allowing R to share a bed with her, they form an unbreakable bond.
5 – Cue the helpful, unconventional secondary characters
Both Julie’s friend, Nora, and R’s buddy, M, are quirky, give advice, and stand up for their friends, which is what you’d expect from good pals.
Even though M doesn’t understand R’s newfound fixation on Julie, he protects both of them without concern for himself and helps them on their journey. And Nora does the same.
6 – A satisfying happily ever after
Unlike Romeo and Juliet, which is definitely a tragedy featuring romance and passion and death, Warm Bodies is a wonderfully kooky romance that warms my heart.
Have you seen the movie? Read the book? Both? What did you think?