Movie No. 19: "The House Bunny"

Back during his triple Oscar nomination year, I wrote that George Clooney was becoming the actor whose movies I most looked forward to, not because he was the most talented but because, post-"Batman and Robin," it seemed like he simply didn't make bad movies.


Anna Faris is becoming the anti-Clooney. With the exception of bit parts in a number of great films (most notably her Cameron Diaz impression in "Lost in Translation"), her resume is dotted by films I either have absolutely no interest in seeing or have seen and wished I hadn't.


In "The House Bunny," Faris plays a Playmate (but not, as she disappointingly admits, a centerfold) who is kicked out of the Playboy Mansion. Homeless, and not that bright, she stumbles into a sorority house ("It's like a miniature version of the Mansion") and, through a series of supposedly comedic events, winds up the house mother to the campus' struggling, misfit sorority, complete with the book-smart but socially dim leader (Emma Stone), the anti-social cynic (Kat Dennings) , the exceptionally pregnant one (American Idol's Katherine McPhee), the one in the metal back brace (Bruce and Demi's daughter Rumer), the trailer trash one (I believe Dana Goodman) and the one too shy to even talk to her sorority sisters (pretty sure Kiely Williams). If she can't turn them around and make them popular enough to attract 30 pledges, they'll lose their house, much to the delight of a stuck up rival sorority who hopes to use the house for their overflow pledges.

Despite the fact the movie sounds more like a late-night offering on Cinemax than PG-13 multiplex fare, there had to at least be hope for the film. It's by the same writers as "Legally Blonde," which had no business being any good either but was anyway. Similar scenario, far different result (although some of the blame surely falls on director Fred Wolf, whose writing credits include "Joe Dirt" and whose directorial debut was "Strange Wilderness," a movie that was apparently so bad that a couple of Lisa's cousins seem to have been permanently scarred by it).

That's not to say there aren't a few laughs. Faris, as I said, is a gifted comedic actor, and when she gets a good line she can usually wring a great laugh. Unfortunately, those are few and far between, with most of the film managing to be patently absurd without being the least bit funny. I spent much more time shaking my head in disbelief than I did laughing. That's usually not a good sign.

D

Note: Once again, maybe I'm not the right demographic for this one. My wife enjoyed it.