Parents' Guide to Army of the Dead

Zack Snyder's zombie heist movie is hardly original, and yet, because of its cast and hardy sense of humor, it marginally succeeds as an action/horror roller coaster ride. Like many of Snyder's movies, Army of the Dead is far too long and far from flawless. The zombies aren't at all scary or interesting, and there's some iffy imagery. But though the movie employs the director's usual drab color palette, it does sometimes unexpectedly brighten up once the team arrives in Vegas. And while some camera movements and cutting can be jerky and disorienting, other sequences work quite well. In a shift from some of his earlier movies, Snyder even attempts to give his female characters a little power and a real voice.

The movie is elevated by its lovable, diverse characters, led by the always charismatic Bautista, and -- in a switch from Snyder's grim, humorless superhero movies -- a rolicking sense of humor (much of it supplied by Tig Notaro as a helicopter pilot). In the end, the movie reveals a good heart, valuing family over the stolen millions. While Synder still can't resist including his name at least a half-dozen times during the extra gory, show-offy opening credits sequence, Army of the Dead ultimately doesn't take itself too seriously. It seems to know that it's just here for mindless moviegoing fun.