How Zombieland 2 Fails Little Rock
Mia Smith Little Rock's (Abigail Breslin) search for companionship plays a big role in Zombieland 2's plot, but the script ends up leaving her by the wayside.
Little Rock's (Abigail Breslin) search for companionship plays a big role in Zombieland 2's plot, but the script ends up leaving her by the wayside. In 2009's original Zombieland film, Columbus (Jesse Eisenberg), Tallahassee (Woody Harrelson), Wichita (Emma Stone), and Breslin's Little Rock met and formed an unlikely alliance that developed into a makeshift family. Ten years later, in Zombieland: Double Tap, things aren't quite as rosy among the group as they were before. Little Rock has grown from small child into a young woman, and is sick of surrogate dad Tallahassee treating her like a kid.
Little Rock also wants some friends her own age, as well as a chance at a romantic relationship, things she can't find holed up at the White House with the rest of the gang. Wichita - feeling she's become too attached to Columbus - and Little Rock end up leaving, much to the dismay of Tallahassee and Columbus. Wichita returns after about a month, seeking their help in finding Little Rock, who ran off with a pot-smoking pacifist named Berkeley she met.
While Berkeley isn't exactly a gem of a person, it's not hard to see why Little Rock jumped at the chance to spend time with a guy her own age, and try to make her own way in the world. It's not hard to predict that Little Rock will eventually reunite with her Zombieland family, but what is a bit surprising is that the character's goal of finding love and companionship is tossed out the window and unresolved.
How Zombieland 2 Fails Little Rock
To make a feature film's story short, Little Rock ends up being reminded of the importance of family, even when that family isn't forged by blood ties. She reunites with her sister Wichita, Tallahassee, and Columbus after the group successfully slaughters a horde of zombies that descend on the youth commune Little Rock and Berkeley had headed to. That's a fine ending, except for the fact that literally every other main cast member ends up finding love but her, despite that being one of her original goals for leaving the group.
Things between Little Rock and Berkeley don't work out, as they end up having little in common. The same holds true for the ditzy Madison, who had a brief fling with Columbus. Madison and Berkeley get together at the end of Zombieland 2, while Columbus and Wichita's relationship is repaired to the point they decide to get married, and even gruff old Tallahassee sparks a romance with badass motel owner Nevada (Rosario Dawson). Little Rock is the only major character to end the movie without a romantic partner, and that just doesn't seem fair. Sure, she probably was too impulsive in running away from the group, but she's young, and entitled to make a few mistakes. If Zombieland 3 ever comes to fruition, Little Rock will hopefully get the happy ending she deserves.
