Accused of smuggling cabbages into a nation where cabbages are banned, Declan and Delores must confront the fragility of their new marriage while on the run for their lives.
“Bubble & Squeak” is one of those quirky, offbeat comedies that really divides the audience. It’s packed with absurd humor, running gags, and deadpan delivery that will either make you laugh or leave you scratching your head. Based on Evan Twohy’s play, the film has that vibe of a dark, weird fable that takes a very off-center approach to its storytelling, and it will either appeal to your sense of humor or leave you with the most excruciating cinematic experience.
Declan (Himesh Patel) and Delores (Sarah Goldberg) are a married couple who relationship is already on shaky ground. On a trip to an exotic country where cabbages are considered illegal contraband, the pair get wrapped up in a chaotic smuggling plot where they’re accused of bringing the vegetable across the border. Feeling they have no other options after being detained, Declan and Delores make a run for it as they try to stay ahead of a relentless customs enforcer (Matt Berry) and out of sight of fearful locals.
The premise is absurd and plays out like a twisted fairy tale, with chapters that show different stages of Delores and Declan’s crazy journey. The humor is wry and deadpan, which sets the tone for the whole movie.
The first half is filled with great moments, thanks to the committed performances from the cast. Himesh and Sarah deliver Twohy’s weird dialogue with perfect timing, and Berry as the creepy enforcer is an absolute hoot. Things amusingly hum along until Dave Franco shows up in a bear suit, a turning point where it feels like the film suddenly shifts gears and tries to get a bit too wacky (but it’s not his fault). Franco has fantastic comedic timing and by playing it straight, he keeps the tone intact. It’s only after this stretch that the movie loses its way.
The second half of the film is nothing short of a mess, and Twohy stretches the material out for a lot longer than he needs to. Some of the jokes are definitely a hit, while others feel like they drag on a bit too much (especially when the movie starts repeating itself). Some of the missteps are strangely charming, but that goodwill only takes the audience so far.
Silly and weird, “Bubble & Squeak” is definitely too long for what it is (a one-joke gag), and it doesn’t offer up a neatly wrapped conclusion. This quirky mess is one of those movies that you don’t quite know who it’s for. But if you’re into oddball humor and can appreciate its bizarre tone, you’ll probably enjoy at least the first half of a film that manages to work well enough.
