The Bubble review: Judd Apatow's movie, featuring Vir Das, had scope but fails to impress and its longer runtime only makes it worse

The film also stars Karen Gillan, Iris Apatow, Fred Armisen, Maria Bakalova, David Duchovny, Keegan-Michael Key, Leslie Mann, Kate McKinnon, Pedro Pascal, Guz Khan and Peter Serafinowicz.

Vir Das in The Bubble/YouTube Screengrab

The Bubble

Story:

The film is about a group of actors being quarantined in a hotel in England to shoot the film, Cliff Beasts 6. The actors of the successful dinosaur-themed franchise are being supervised by producer Gavin who is answerable to the studio executive Kate and is forced to complete the shoot come what may. A few COVID-19 positive cases, an influenza outbreak and actors being tested for STDs or losing their fingers do not stop them from shooting and they finally try to break free.

Review:

The Bubble opens in the Star Wars style. Though it does not run a brief in the yellow font slidding from bottom to top, it gives a brief introduction on screen in white font. It then starts with a film producer Gavin giving instructions to two people about taking care of the actors and ensuring that they follow social distancing once they reach the bubble. The two are left in charge of everything that any actors would need them for, as the makers are cutting down on the budget and staff to shoot the movie, Cliff Beasts 6, amidst the pandemic.

The first few minutes of the film look absurd as they start without giving viewers proper time to soak in what's going on. The producers are then seen chasing the actors to be a part of the movie, trying to convince them. Carol, who had left the popular film franchise, gets convinced to return to be a part of Cliff Beast 6.

The film tries really hard to be funny but it hardly gives you any dose of laughter at all. At some points, the writing seems to be all over the place like the situation of the characters in the movie. The timing of the film's release also does not help much. The quarantine life during the COVID-19 pandemic that it talks about and how it made people crazy and frustrated, now seems a little outdated.

The film also tries to touch upon several subjects like pressure faced by actors, social media influencing, cancel culture, the shelf life of actors, religion, cult following, relationships, motivational speakers and drugs in the film industry. It kind of justifies the use of drugs by actors showing how they feel miserable due to all the pressure to look good and stay in shape. But the way these are portrayed neither makes you laugh nor hits a chord with you.

Though the idea of the film is interesting and is well intended, it fails to impress due to poor writing. The stellar cast consisting of Karen Gillan, Iris Apatow, Fred Armisen, Maria Bakalova, David Duchovny, Keegan-Michael Key, Leslie Mann, Kate McKinnon, Pedro Pascal, Guz Khan and Peter Serafinowicz are unable to save the film either. Also, it looks like Vir Das took part in it only because he got carried away since it's a Hollywood film by Judd Apatow. However, he is hardly seen, adding nothing significant to the events in the film. He plays the role of the housekeeping staff in the hotel where the actors are quarantined. It might look a little degrading as it appears that he was cast in the film only to show some sort of diversity with Asian actors and when they did, they cast him as a housekeeping staff who happily volunteers to clean the toilets. And to add to the dismay, he is also made to mumble a line in Hindi and of course dance at the back, since he's part of the Bollywood industry.

The film also has an 'angel' in it, a 'pure' Christain and God-fearing girl who believes in eternal love and not losing virginity before the marriage. She however flirts with an Oscar-winning actor Dieter and shares her fantasies with him. And when she decides to abandon her idea and go to his room, the Hindu Indian jumps in and stops her from doing it. It all seems over-the-top drama.

The film is over two hours long and it makes the overall movie experience even worse as if the bonker ideas and poor writing were not enough. It barely gives you any chuckles throughout the movie.

The film ends with however, the actors walking on the red carpet at some prominent awards function and being interviewed by journalists. Even though the actors had ran away before completing the film, the final cut of Cliff Beasts by its director seems to have received several awards, which is weird and may make you want to stab yourself.

Verdict:

The film did have a lot of scope and seems to have been made with the heart in the right place but its poor writing kills it. The drama is also all over the place and not so funny.

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Cast and Crew

Samson Kayo

Tony Honickberg

Israeli Diplomat

Steve Dawson

David Cheung

Sherpa

Dave Simon

Spark

Donna Air

Nick Feld

Security

Maria Bakalova

Danielle Vitalis

Chris Witaske

Josh

Pedro Pascal

Rob Delaney

James O'Donnell

Annie Hitchcock

Judah Miller

David Duchovny

Charlie Vaughan

Mark Layton

Charlotte Amelia Miles

Dave King

Peter Serafinowicz

Vir Das

Karen Gillan

Leslie Mann

Lauren Van Chance

Keegan-Michael Key

Sean Knox

Fred Armisen

Darren Eigan

Ivy Wolk

Youtuber

Nick Donald

Security

Harry Trevaldwyn

Gunther

Galen Hopper

Carla

Iris Apatow

Krystal Kris

Ben Ashenden

Cyril

Kate McKinnon

Paula the Studio Head

Ross Lee

Mr. Best

Nick Kocher

Scott the EPK Guy

Austin Ku

Li the Executive Chairman

John Cena

Steve the Stunt Coordinator

Vivian Full

Second ET Reporter

Benedict Cumberbatch

Maria Bamford

Krystal's Mother

Guz Khan

Howie Frangopolous

Raphael Acloque

Zaki

Celeste Dring

Martha the Script Supervisor

Alexander Owen

Cyril the MoCap Guy

Beck

Beck

James McAvoy

Self

John Lithgow

Tom

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