Of course, after they’ve turned from ugly ducklings to Spice Girls, Shelley and the girls realize that inner beauty is what counts and in a perfunctory fashion the screenwriters try to work in this message half-heartedly far too late into the picture. Ultimately even the likable Anna Faris can’t make up for House Bunny’s complete lack of respect for the intelligence of its audience and especially its narrow and sexist view of women and men alike.
Let’s just say that McCullah Lutz and Smith may joke via Shelley that they “know what boys like,” but obviously they don’t know what thinking men and women like. And as a feminist who not only adores men but as a film lover — who has a circle of mostly male friends — I’m proud to say that a large majority of both genders will find this ridiculous. However, as a woman and one individual, I can only speak for myself in saying that when it comes to representing our gender, I rank McCullah Lutz and Smith in the same regrettable company as Dr. Laura along with the contestants on The Bachelor, Wife Swap, and America’s Next Top Model.
This is especially unfortunate as Faris, a sunny, guileless beauty who will do anything for a laugh, tries her hardest to make the script work, playing her role as a sort of cross between Marilyn Monroe and Judy Holliday. It’s definitely most notable when we realize that as a Playboy Bunny she’s never actually been on a real date and struggles with coming on first too ridiculously sexy and then as a faux intellectual. For the fullest effect, check out these priceless clips as she tries to win over Colin Hanks’ (yes, the son of Rita Wilson and Tom Hanks) earnest do-gooder over the course of two monumentally awful dates.
Date 1:
Date 2:
And you know it’s bad when Hugh Hefner earns the most audience sympathy in a few choice comedic scenes and our romantic leading man plays a character so one-dimensional, he may as well have just been dubbed “Shelley’s Date” instead of even given an actual name. Although he’s had little opportunity to prove himself in other work, Hanks is likable (it runs in his family after all) so therefore it’s woefully unfortunate that the writers were so compelled to include a romantic subplot that they didn’t even try to offer us anything new, creating yet another one of these bland, interchangeable, asexual, and neutered romantic comedy males (think Michael Vartan in Never Been Kissed or Mark Ruffalo in 13 Going on 30). I couldn’t help but think that the film would’ve benefited from deleting his character altogether and making it solely about Shelley’s Pygmalion-like journey with the other girls as they each begin to bring out the best in one another. Although that wish was dashed from the start when it begins structured like a fairy-tale without a trace of irony with Hef’s mansion as the film’s version of a royal palace and Shelley’s ultimate goal to become a centerfold.
Article comments
1 - El Bicho
But how do you really feel? Don't hold back. Very good review.
2 - Jen
Ha ha, yes, I know-- let's just say, I was the first one out of my seat at the screening (though I think most critics were right behind me) and I avoided the PR note-takers altogether to make a bee-line for my car. The only other time I did that at a screening was for last year's unintentionally hilarious Love in the Time of Cholera.
Not to mention, that that "bend and snap" line had already popped into my head just ten minutes into the movie.
Hmm, maybe I've been inspired by all of you other wonderful Blogcritics to get out of my shell a bit? Too bad it was Faris's "Shelley" that was the culprit since she's so talented.
Thanks for reading and the compliment-- you're a wonderful critic so it means a lot.
3 - Jordan Richardson
Bloody hell, this movie looks all kinds of awful. Thanks for saving me the trouble!
4 - Jen
No, problem, Jordan. Happy to take one for the team movie-wise! :)
5 - Jen
not sure how that extra comma got in there at the beginning but oh well... maybe I'm still recovering from the film.
6 - Derek Fleek
I couldn't tell who the target audience was, whether it be hormone-crazed men or early teenage girls. The marketing here was a problem, and the fact that you provided the movie with an infallible "skip it" warning printed on the cover saved me a few bucks and 97 precious minutes of my life. Thank you and great review Jen.
7 - Jen
Thanks, Derek and you're right-- bad marketing all the way!
8 - Brentwood
Um-m-m-m-m-----it's a cute, funny little comedy. No need to get all four-syllable on us. It's not designed to be "Schindler's List." Most other reviewers seem to have gotten this point.There is a legitimate place for funny and sweet.
9 - Jen
Hi Brentwood. Thanks for your comment. Anna Faris rules but the movie-- not so much. Glad you enjoyed the film but actually most reviewers were disappointed with it as well (check out the major newspaper sites or Rotten Tomatoes for proof). Obviously it's not Schindler's List which is a good thing since there can only be one of those and if all movies were like that it'd be too depressing to hit the cinema anymore!
I totally agree with you that there's a legitimate place for funny and sweet and tons of movies have done that much, much, much better like Never Been Kissed, 13 Going On 30, You've Got Mail, The Wedding Singer and definitely Legally Blonde etc.
Surprisingly, I'm one of the few critics who didn't hate Made of Honor or 27 Dresses so I always stick up for cute little comedies that are worthwhile! There's another one of these films coming up in a few weeks that I think you'll enjoy even more than Bunny so stay tuned. As a critic I'm not allowed to discuss it yet but let's just say it's a female film that's sweet, funny, and treats its characters and audiences a bit better than this one did.