A-Z Movies Database

House Bunny, The DVD Review

"The House Bunny" reviews

DVD
The House Bunny
Author
anonymous
Date reviewed
2009-02-04 13:30:32
Provider
DVD Review

What's a girl to do when her lifelong ambition remains unrealised and she has to seek a new way to make a living?

Shelley's 27th birthday at the Playboy Mansion is followed by her unceremonious exit as she's told she's too old to become a centrefold! So, with little but her old wreck of a car, a smidgen of common sense and a whole heap of naivety she heads into Beverly Hills. Where, at the world's gloomiest sorority house, she gets appointed as the unlikeliest of House Mother's to a bunch of girls about to lose their home due to a lack of pledges.

Shelley believes her unique 'skills' could really help whip the girls into action, and make Zeta Alpha Zeta a happening place. She might get to discover men can have a depth previously unknown to her too.

Anna Faris is a great comedienne. She's also 'red hot' (guy-talk!). This means her appearance can sometimes wipe out half her audience by getting her labelled a bimbo. Unfair! - wholly unfair! Remember: Acting is easy, comedy is hard. She brings on the laughs with dead-on deadpan one-liner delivery, quality slapstick and still has plenty of talent to be the foil for other performers to shine.

Admittedly, The House Bunny is stretching belief when a bunch of anti-babes transform into the uber-set of the college overnight. And is it still necessary for girls to wear very little to be popular? Even if this is a latecomer to the Girl Power party, as it's 'on their terms'

A strong ensemble cast - including Emma Stone (Superbad), Katherine McPhee (the American Idol contestant's debut), Rumer Willis - keep the girls characters under all the eyeliner alive and a extol a real camaraderie. That's borne out by the surprisingly massive number of featurettes giving us a rare behind the scenes glimpse of this type of film - fascinating and fun (Though why's everyone calling Anna, 'Onna'?)

A clear cut case of a sweeter, softer feel-good comedy. It has much in common with the more sensitive, thoughtful Role Models from Paul Rudd (they'd make a good double act). It offers you more than just cleavage and belly laffs, so forget the tacky sleeve: It's a film for guys and girls who like to have fun, and have an open mind.

Copyright © 2009.



Which team are you on?

New Moon Vote team Edward or team Jacob and watch exclusive interviews with the cast, our first review and photo galleries.

Visit our New Moon feature page

Precious Premiere Photos

Click any picture to enlarge…

  • Will Smith at the AFI Fest 2009 screening of Precious
  • Nick Cannon and Mariah Carey at the AFI Fest 2009 screening of Precious
  • Oprah Winfrey at the 34th Annual Toronto Film Festival premiere of Precious
  • Mariah Carey at the AFI Fest 2009 screening of Precious
  • Mary J. Blige at the 34th Annual Toronto Film Festival premiere of Precious
  • Mariah Carey at the New York screening of Precious

More "Precious: Based on the Novel Push by Sapphire" premiere photos…

More premiere photos…

THIS WEEK'S POLL

Which of the following do you think has been the most disappointing film of 2009 so far?

View results without voting

Are you excited about Spider-Man 4?

Spider-Man Spider-Man 4 looks set to go ahead, but with the plot yet to be confirmed, we have a look at some of the rumours surrounding the upcoming film.

Read the rumours about Spider-Man 4

News on your mobile

Get entertainment news on your mobile phone. Find out more

A-Z Movies Database