Sexist or Empowered? (The House Bunny (Blu-ray))

Member Name: samueltyler

Product:	The House Bunny (Blu-ray)
Date:	07/10/09 (48 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Solid acting, some funny moments

Disadvantages: Chauvenistic, poor moral message

I think that modern day media has difficulty in distinguishing between what is empowering woman and what is plain old sexism. Music videos and films have half naked woman grinding up and down on rather short, ugly men and this is seen as empowerment as they are being paid to do this and choose to. Fair enough I suppose. However, I consider myself a bit of a feminist even though I am a bloke! My life is full of successful and beautiful woman who do what they want, when they want, and I would not want it any other way. I believe that woman should get equal pay and equal standing in all areas of the world from the media to politics. I find it sad that so many women are willing to strip off near nude for the titillation of men; this is not what the suffragettes had in mind I imagine. There is a place for more base entertainment, but this should be coupled with meatier roles for women. Why then are films that claim to empower women become like 'The House Bunny' and get produced by Playboy magazine?

Shelley lives in the Playboy mansion with the Crypt Keeper (also known as Hugh Hefner) and his bunnies. However, on her 26th birthday she is given a letter reportedly from the Heff asking her to leave as she is too old. With a sad heart Shelley packs her bag and becomes homeless. This is until she stumbles across the University district and manages to get the job as House Mother to a group of misfits. If the house is unable to get a full pledge of new students this year they are going to be closed down. Can Shelly inspire the women to become popular and save their house?

I have few guilty pleasures in my life, but one of them is films produced by Adam Sandler. These include cheesy favourites of mine like 'Deuce Bigalow: Male Gigolo', 'The Bench Warmers' and 'Dickie Roberts: Former Childstar'. None of these films can be considered masterpieces; and in fact could be considered pretty awful. However, they all have a good heart and stick up for the little guy. With this in mind I was prepared for more of the same with 'The House Bunny', as it is from the same stable. Can the beat of a good heart be heard over the clattering of all the chauvinism in the film?

On a very basic comic level 'Bunny' just about works. The storyline of fish out of water makes good is a well worn one, but works. Anna Farris is a good comedy actress and does play Shelley well; combining ditsy with some good slapstick humour. The co-stars are also pretty solid with Colin Hanks being a refreshingly normal point of view in the film and up and coming actress Emma Stone once again doing a good job with bad material. For all intents and purposes the film should be a dodgy 3 stars as it should do enough to entertain for 90 minutes and not much else.

But. The film left an unpleasant taste in my mouth. 'The House Bunny' was produced by Playboy and for that reason the brand is king within the film. Hugh Hefner now tries to paint himself as a kindly grandfather type person, but you have to remember he became rich off the exploitation of thousands of woman. I have no real issue with this, but don't expect me to like or respect the guy. This concept of 'new' Playboy is prevalent throughout the film as if it is a nice thing to consider woman as nothing more as visual playthings. This is a university environment and I would at least hope that some blokes there liked their women for their brains too.

Even with the heavy handed treatment of the Playboy image I could still have enjoyed the film and I did until the 'make over' scene. The classic Hollywood set up of a group of ugly ducklings turning into swans. However, there is something a little unsavoury about a group of drab, yet intelligent, women being turned into what is basically slutty looking. Make overs are fine and cheesy, but aspiring to be a playboy type girl? Not so nice. Some of the girls are perfect to begin with; I for one really liked Emma Stone's Natalie in the before stage! The film tries to suggest that perhaps inner beauty is what counts, but this message is lost under a tidal wave of messages saying that people only like pretty girls who look a little loose around the edges.

With a moral compass that has been left to point in the wrong direction I found I could not enjoy 'The House Bunny' as a straight comedy. With some decent jokes, good acting and a standard storyline there should have been enough here to leave me happy. However, perhaps I am a little sensitive but preaching to an audience of 12A viewers that visible flesh makes you popular does not sit well with me. Hefner's grubby hands are all over this film and it left me feeling slightly unclean afterwards.



Director: Fred Wolf
Year: 2008
Cert: 12A
Starring: Anna Farris
Price: Amazon uk £12.88 (BluRay)
Play.com £17.99 (BluRay)


Extras

I watched this film on BluRay and like with many comedy films the format did not add anything to the film. The extras were good with plenty of featurettes and a gag reel that is worth watching. One extra looking at Colin Hanks seems to suggest that he is a nice bloke like his dad.

Summary: Less about empowering women and more about patronising them