I had high hopes for “”The House Bunny.”” The trailer was flashy and pink, and Anna Faris seemed like she was finally getting her comedic feet under her after a series of flops. The premise seemed cute enough, at least for a fun, girls-night-at-the-movies sort of thing. Faris plays Shelly, a 27-year-old, fun-loving, dimwitted Playboy Bunny.
A former orphan, Shelly was taken in by Hef and the girls. After being kicked out of the mansion, the flimsy plot begins. Shelly finds herself as housemother of the struggling Zeta Alpha Zeta sorority house. The next 90 minutes follow Shelly as she turns the quirky and awkward members of ZAZ into “”hotties”” while saving their sorority charter. There’s also an unimportant plot involving Oliver (Colin Hanks) as a smart love interest.
The film really shines with a relatively unknown supporting cast-especially the ladies who make up ZAZ. Each of the members has a specific quality that makes her “”abnormal,”” at least as far as sororities go. The funniest moments come from these girls, as well as a few scenes where Faris showcases her comedic chops. Other than this, the movie falls flat.
The biggest disappointment is the dialogue. The cast itself seems capable enough of a successful comedy, but awkward lines and stupid jokes leave the audience bored and waiting for the credits. Overall, wait until House Bunny is out on DVD.
– Claire Engelken