Bubble Boy
A long time ago before Jake Gyllenhaal looked like this…
Or this …
Or even this…
He looked like this…
Ah 2001 where even the hotties now looked like regrets then. This is Gyllenhaal in 2001 weird comedy Bubble Boy. The film stars our regulation fittie as Jimmy Livingston; a boy born without an immune system. To keep him, you know, alive, his right wing over protective parents keep him in a plastic world away from human touch. When Chloe (Marley Shelton) moves in next door, Jimmy soon develops feelings for her. Jimmy is devastated when Chloe announces she is going to marry her boyfriend Mark and soon goes off on a quest to win her heart. In a home made bubble suit, Jimmy meets a whole host of strange people all intrigued by the bubble boy.
Why Is It Bad?
This film is….oh… how do I put it? Oh that’s right, beyond ridiculous. If the small plot synopsis above isn’t anything to go by then let me tell you about the friends he meets; a cult, a biker, an Ice Cream & Curry van driver, a circus of freaks and a plane driver. This isn’t an average boy travels America to proclaim love tale (or it is, because, well America.) The story goes from slightly weird to completely outrageous in a couple of minutes and each character is even more of a near offensive caricature than the last. The jokes bounce along from cute to downright tasteless and if you are not a big fan of poking fun at “weirdo’s” then this film isn’t going to sit pretty with you. Somewhere along the lines, writers Cinco Paul and Ken Durio took the plot from a heart warming *cough* mad for T.V. *cough* movie from 1976 and lathered on the frat boy jokes. It wanes like a bad Farrelly brothers movie.
Why Is It Good?
After writing the why is it bad section, I can’t honestly tell you why I find it so good. Maybe it’s reminiscent for me (I watched it a lot on Sky films when I was about 13 because hey, free movies.) or maybe it’s because of the performances in it. I doubt many within Bubble Boy stretched their acting skills far but most put in an earnest show. Gyllenhaal plays Jimmy really sweetly and pulls you in to actually care about his journey. You end up rooting for Jimmy on this crazy adventure because you feel for him, which is really helpful for a main character. While the others a bit players, it’s always great to see the ever hilarious Swoosie Kurtz (who plays crazy mother in most of her roles) as the uptight right wing Christian who just wants to protect her son. And believe it or not, there are some funny parts too. Particularly, a scene with a baseball and an erection gains a few giggles.
Bubble Boy is not to everyone’s taste but hey, this wouldn’t be Stale Treats if it pleased you all. It’s one of those movies that for one reason or another sticks with you. Whether you like boyish humour or are a sucker for romantic tales then this will please any cravings you have. Just remember not to take your brain with you, don’t over analysis too much and enjoy.
Hmm, I feel like I’ve just demoted myself as a critic.
TTFN
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