MPAA Rated – PG-13
It’s 1:24 Long
A Review by:
– The Dude on the Right
| Bubble Boy Movie Stats & Links |
|
| Starring: | Jake Gyllenhaal, Marley Shelton, Swoosie Kurtz, Beetlejuice |
| MPAA Rated: | PG-13 |
| Released By: | Touchstone Pictures |
| Release Date: | 2001 |
| Kiddie Movie: | Only if you want to try and explain the “Memorable Quotes” listed below. |
| Date Movie: | Don’t waste your money on bringing them. |
| Gratuitous Sex: | Talk and the bubble boy in his underwear. |
| Gratuitous Violence: | The Bubble Boy gets bounced around a little. |
| Action: | There are some chase scenes. |
| Laughs: | There could have been a lot more. |
| Memorable Scene: | The mud wrestling scene. |
| Memorable Quote: | To give you a feel of the movie: “It’s the Jews, they’re gonna want more money.” and “Pinocchio came out of his bubble, touched the little whore next door, and died.” |
| Directed By: | Blair Hayes |
You know, I’m not really sure what the support group for kids with immune deficiency are bitching about, but “Bubble Boy” offends so many more ethnic and racial groups while leaving Jimmy, this movie’s bubble boy, played by Jake Gyllenhaal, looking like a hero.
I won’t waste too much of your time with this review so here’s a quick story run-down. Jimmy was born with an immunity deficiency which meant if was exposed to any germs he would probably die. His mom keeps him sheltered in his bubble, telling him there is only one TV show, “Land of the Lost” I believe it was. But Jimmy can look out his bedroom window and when the hot babe, Chloe (Marley Shelton) moves in next door, and, well, Jimmy starts to hit puberty, well, Jimmy is in love. But she’s a love he can’t have and when she goes off to marry a loser, well, Jimmy handily crafts a portable bubble so he can go stop the wedding.
So Jimmy’s off to Niagara Falls from like, California, and there are funny stories to tell as Jimmy makes his way across the country, well, at least there should be funny stories to tell. Instead you get jokes about Hindu’s and their sacred cows, Hispanics, hick-towns, cults, side-show freaks, and Jews.
Well, and trust me, this isn’t ruining the movie, but Jimmy makes it in time to stop the wedding and finds out that his mother is a liar.
The movie actually had some potential to be funny, poignant, and cute, but instead went to just make fun of everyone and anything and in doing so it just stopped being funny. Sure there were some cute moments, who wouldn’t think Bubble-Boy body-surfing is sort of funny, but in the end this movie almost seemed to try to take itself too seriously, not about the disease, but about Jimmy’s quest to get his girl, and went for the easy racial/ethnic jokes instead of being creatively funny.
“Bubble Boy” wasn’t horrible, but don’t waste your money on it in the theater or even renting the video. Wait for cable on this one. 1 ½ stars out of 5.
That’s it for this one! I’m The Dude on the Right!! L8R!!!