The Times' Kenneth Turan said that although parts of World War Z are formulaic it's good to have Pitt in the one man against the apocalypse role. Though nothing about this part is a particular challenge it's satisfying to see the actor handling being an old school Mr. Intrepid without breaking a sweat.
Regarding the production difficulties Turan wrote 'World War Z' plays a bit like a series of separate films and the juncture where the new final act was grafted on to the proceedings is unmistakable but unless you knew about the film's troubled past you'd never guess it existed. Against considerable odds the ability and professionalism of the cast and crew have carried the day.
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Joe Morgenstern of the Wall Street Journal agreed that World War Z works against heavy odds. He added this enjoyable shambles of a sci fi thriller directed by Marc Forster in impressive 3 D stands on its own as a powerful vision of planetary chaos. Pitt meanwhile is the movie's greatest asset and grounds his character Gerry Lane in unspoken wisdom unflappable courage and unforced charm.
The San Francisco Chronicle's Mick LaSalle said the film is nerve racking and just keeps coming and he credits Forster for playing things straight resulting in real disturbance and unease. LaSalle added At the center of the movie Pitt is everything he needs to be the face that catches your eye in a crowd believable in action human and thoughtful and as pretty as the zombies are ugly. He is an exalted but casual representative of the human race. He also knows how to listen and let the featured players have their moments.
The New York Times' A.O. Scott called Z pretty refreshing and added Its action set pieces are cleverly conceived and coherently executed in ways that make them feel surprising even exciting. Brad Pitt ... wears a scruffy Redfordesque air of pained puzzlement. And best of all 'World War Z' ... reverses the relentless can we top this structure that makes even smart blockbusters feel bloated and dumb.
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The Village Voice's Stephanie Zacharek said that if nothing else World War Z shows off some horrifically effective filmmaking including an early set piece on the streets of Philadelphia. She added Forster moves the action forward deftly scene by scene yet the movie ends up feeling sprawling and empty a 'zombies invaded the world and all I got was a lousy T shirt' enterprise.
That said all that matters in 'World War Z' is Brad Pitt who is a deeply comforting presence the dad who promises to take care of everything everything and actually manages to do so.
The Boston Globe's Ty Burr said 'World War Z' really shouldn t be any good at all but added that what sounds ridiculous on paper turns out to be a gripper on the screen. 'World War Z' is epically realized entertainment that feeds on our fears of apocalypse but it s just fast enough and smart enough and more importantly human enough to keep an audience on edge from start to finish.
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Speaking of humans Pitt moves through the mayhem not as a strutting superhero but a capable and very worried guy with a wife and kids back home and some of the film's most affecting scenes center on the relationships he forges with other characters. In the end against steep odds Burr said 'World War Z' works.
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