Cert 15
116 mins
BBFC advice: Contains sustained threat and strong violence.
If ever a line should be drawn under the zombie genre it's now.
Over the last two and a half years I have seen the undead in films whose budgets have ranged from less than $10,000 to $125 million.
Yes, the latter is the staggering amount spent by director Marc Foster and his team.
It enables them to come up with some pretty stunning CGI and ambitious sets from Glasgow to Malta, from Budapest to Philadelphia (not forgetting Kent, Dorset and Cornwall).
Yes, World War Z brings the word 'big' to zombieland.
Consequently, the film-makers have created a picture which is a visual treat.
The problem is with the storyline. There are only so many ways to tell a tale of a virus killing people and making them rise again as soulless maniacs.
And, while World War Z is probably as good a zombie film as will ever be made, ultimately it still comes up with same cliches as those on which far less money has been spent.
In it, Brad Pitt (he usually has better taste) plays a former UN special operative Gerry Lane who is brought out of retirement to help what remains of the authorities to quell the aforementioned fast-spreading virus.
The latter has already led to the undead (this particular variety are very fast and very aggressive) to take over large urban areas across the world.
Despite earth being faced with an apocalypse, Lane is not keen to lead the fightback because he has promised his wife (Mireille Enos) that he would be staying home with the kids (Sterling Jerins and Abigail Hargrove).
But when the gravitas finally dawns on the Flanders ... sorry, Lane family...he goes off in search of the origin of the virus.
And, of course, along the way, from South Korea to Israel and even in Britain (where people usually tend to greet zombie attacks by having a cup of tea and a cucumber sandwich) he witnesses scenes of mayhem and the occasionally mad scientist.
And beyond that, there isn't really much to add.
Yes, the special effects are not out of place with this summer's blockbusters and neither is the rather mundane plot and the lack of real acting prowess.
So far, 2013's big budget offerings have been disappointing. World War Z is another which is worth seeing but certainly isn't worth a place in the movies of the year.
Oh, and don't bother with the 3D version.
Laughs: none
Jumps: none
Vomit: none
Nudity: none
Overall rating: 7/10