Director Josh Monkarsh wrote As We Know It with Brandon DePaolo and Christopher Francis. Set in 1990s Los Angeles, the comedy follows aspiring author James (Mike Castle). His first book, about trains in space, was a modest success. Unfortunately, ever since Emily (Taylor Blackwell) broke up with him, James has been in a downward funk. He’s drinking excessively and has not written much. Then, his best friend, Bruce (Oliver Cooper), comes knocking at the door to check on him.
However, the reason Bruce swings by is not because of the break-up. He’s come to check on James because a particular brand of soy milk is turning people into zombies. James does not believe Bruce initially, but after seeing a landscaper eat a dog walker, the friends lock themselves inside. Shortly after, Emily arrives to make sure James is okay and gets stuck there with them. Then, their food delivery driver also gets shut in with James, Bruce, and Emily, but he has a secret that threatens their security. Can the three friends fend off the brain-eating undead? Will Emily and James be able to work through their issues?
As We Know It winks a little too much from the modern-day to the late 90s it is set in. Specifically, James and Bruce are obsessed with Waterworld and talk about how it will definitely stand the test of time. If someone is watching this and has never heard of that Kevin Costner-starring sci-fi actioner, then the several scenes centering around it make little sense. It is nice that Waterworld is a recurring gag, but it also means that more moments don’t make sense without knowing the film.
“…three friends fend off the brain-eating undead.”
With that out of the way, the screenplay has fun with the silly way people become zombies. The jokes at soy’s expense are always funny. The characterizations work quite well also. In the beginning, Bruce comes across as the typical annoying best friend, the kind that one doesn’t actually want around but has known so long it’s hard to ditch him. But as the story progresses, he’s shown to have real heart and knows James better than expected. Emily’s rationale for breaking up with the writer feels authentic, as does James’ reaction to a late revelation.
Acting-wise, As We Know It is really strong. Castle plays the sad sack lead with the right amount of goofiness and pathos. Cooper’s comedic timing is on point, and he’s never not funny. Blackwell is charming, instantly allowing viewers to understand why James is so heartbroken. Chris Parnell and Pam Grier’s cameos are fantastic.
As We Know It hits a lot of the expected beats of a zombie comedy. But the characters are likable, the makeup effects are strong, and the ending is genuinely surprising. Add in the swell cast and solid characters, leaving one with a funny and fun zombie romp.
