Bunny and the Bull
Encyclopedia
Bunny and the Bull is a 2009 British comedy film
from writer-director Paul King
. It stars Edward Hogg
and Simon Farnaby
in a surreal recreation of a road trip. King has previously worked on British television comedies The Mighty Boosh
and Garth Marenghi's Darkplace
; the film is made in a similar style and has guest appearances from stars of those series.
set entirely in a flat. Stephen Turnbull (Edward Hogg
) hasn’t left the house in months. When an infestation of mice wreaks havoc on his daily routine, he finds his mind going back to a disastrous trek round Europe he undertook the previous year with his best friend Bunny (Simon Farnaby
). As the story progresses Stephen reconstructs the journey using objects found around his flat, while hallucinations of several people from the journey trouble him.
The journey begins with Stephen attempting to declare his feelings for Melanie (Madeleine Worrall
), the love of his life, in a restaurant; unfortunately she had put him firmly in "the friend zone"
. To help lift his spirits Bunny proposes that they go on trip around Europe. When they go to visit the local bookmaker, Bunny convinces Stephen to break the habit of a lifetime and take a risk by putting fifty pounds on a rank outsider. They win and then use the £2,500 winnings to pay for the trip. Along the way they stumble across several interesting characters including: a demented dog-loving tramp (Julian Barratt
), an alcoholic ex-matador (Noel Fielding
), a dull tour-guide (Richard Ayoade
) and a superstitious waitress Eloisa (Veronica Echegui), with whom both Bunny and Stephen start a relationship.
Stephen is a nervous vegetarian who prepares himself well for every journey—he is definitely the more sensible of the two friends.
Bunny is slightly crooked: loves a bet, loves alcohol and definitely loves sex. Later on in the film Bunny's gambling ways eventually lead him into losing a suit that he stole from the former matador to a gypsy (he wasn't supposed to go anywhere near the suit and it was bad enough he even wore it). This all happens as soon Stephen has had intercourse with Eloisa (he clearly has more feelings for her than Bunny who sleeps with several women throughout the film). Bunny begs Stephen to help him which he agrees to eventually (when explaining the whole story to Eloisa, Stephen gets punched in the face by her which clearly upsets him). Eventually the duo catch a train (presumably to go home); Stephen starts becoming firm with Bunny and tells him he has never really achieved anything and that the only reason they went to Spain anyway was to fight a bull. Bunny says that if Stephen wants him to fight a bull then he will. Bunny finds a large bull which is made from clockwork and household objects. After fighting the bull for awhile Bunny begins to leave, at which point the bull charges towards him and as it does it becomes real, its horns goring Bunny in the chest causing him to fall down dead. Stephen, possibly blaming himself for his friend's death, hasn't left his house since. Back to the present Stephen is imagining Bunny sitting by his side talking to him about women. Bunny advises Stephen to talk to Eloisa. Stephen gives her a call (it is not heard what is being said) and after this gets ready to leave the house still seeing Bunny in a vision. Bunny asks if he can put a bet on a horse and tells him its a shoo-in and is worth betting his whole house on. Stephen turns around to Bunny one last time before leaving to find that Bunny has disappeared. Stephen steps outside venturing out into the world once again and shuts the door behind him. The credits roll.
(Warp Films
digital slate) with financing from Film4
, UK Film Council
, EM Media, and Screen Yorkshire and filmed at King's Meadow Campus
of the University of Nottingham for 5 weeks. Paul King, having previously directed and associate directed cult favourites The Mighty Boosh
and Garth Marenghi's Darkplace
respectively on television, uses a similar surreal, nonsensical, and occasional dark style in the film. Like many projects made by ex-contributors of Garth Marenghi and Boosh, the film features several other ex-contributors such as Noel Fielding
, Julian Barratt
, Richard Ayoade
and Simon Farnaby
, King admits "I’ve basically cast it off my speed-dial."
Empire
rated the film at four stars (out of a maximum five), describing it as "charmingly crafted and willfully daft". The film was compared to Michel Gondry
's 2004 film Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
in theme and appearance, with the exception that Bunny and the Bull "manages to tramp down its whimsy with a rich vein of very silly, very British comedy". Charles Watson of underground film magazine Slant spouted that it was "a daft tale of wit and woe, with recognisable actors that go straight into their comfort zones making it as crafty and clever as possible."
Comedy film
Comedy film is a genre of film in which the main emphasis is on humour. They are designed to elicit laughter from the audience. Comedies are mostly light-hearted dramas and are made to amuse and entertain the audiences...
from writer-director Paul King
Paul King (Director)
Paul King is a writer and director. He works in television, film and theatre, and specialises in comedy.He graduated from St Catharine's College, Cambridge University with first-class honours in English in 1999...
. It stars Edward Hogg
Edward Hogg
Edward Hogg is an English actor, known for portraying Jesco White in White Lightnin and Stephen Turnbull in Bunny and the Bull.-Background:...
and Simon Farnaby
Simon Farnaby
Simon Alexander Farnaby is an English comedy actor and writer in television, theatre and film.-Early life:Born in Wath-upon-Dearne, South Yorkshire, Farnaby trained at the Webber Douglas Academy of Dramatic Art, National Youth Theatre, and Trinity College, Dublin...
in a surreal recreation of a road trip. King has previously worked on British television comedies The Mighty Boosh
The Mighty Boosh (TV series)
The Mighty Boosh is a British comedy television show created by Julian Barratt, Noel Fielding and others . The Mighty Boosh is a comic fantasy containing humour and pop-culture references. Episodes often featured elaborate musical numbers in different genres, such as electro, heavy metal, funk, and...
and Garth Marenghi's Darkplace
Garth Marenghi's Darkplace
Garth Marenghi's Darkplace is a British dark comedy show made for Channel 4 by Matthew Holness and Richard Ayoade. Following on from Garth Marenghi's Netherhead, which won the 2001 Perrier Awards, the show revolves around fictional horror author Garth Marenghi and his publisher Dean Learner...
; the film is made in a similar style and has guest appearances from stars of those series.
Plot
Bunny and the Bull is a road movieRoad movie
A road movie is a film genre in which the main character or characters leave home to travel from place to place. They usually leave home to escape their current lives.-History:...
set entirely in a flat. Stephen Turnbull (Edward Hogg
Edward Hogg
Edward Hogg is an English actor, known for portraying Jesco White in White Lightnin and Stephen Turnbull in Bunny and the Bull.-Background:...
) hasn’t left the house in months. When an infestation of mice wreaks havoc on his daily routine, he finds his mind going back to a disastrous trek round Europe he undertook the previous year with his best friend Bunny (Simon Farnaby
Simon Farnaby
Simon Alexander Farnaby is an English comedy actor and writer in television, theatre and film.-Early life:Born in Wath-upon-Dearne, South Yorkshire, Farnaby trained at the Webber Douglas Academy of Dramatic Art, National Youth Theatre, and Trinity College, Dublin...
). As the story progresses Stephen reconstructs the journey using objects found around his flat, while hallucinations of several people from the journey trouble him.
The journey begins with Stephen attempting to declare his feelings for Melanie (Madeleine Worrall
Madeleine Worrall
Madeleine Worrall is a British actress. Born and educated in Edinburgh, she studied at the University of Cambridge from 1995–1998 and at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art in 2000...
), the love of his life, in a restaurant; unfortunately she had put him firmly in "the friend zone"
Friend zone
The friend zone, or occasionally friendship zone, is a dating term describing a relation in which one partner wants to become intimate romantically while the other prefers to be just friends. It is generally regarded as not a positive development, particularly for a man...
. To help lift his spirits Bunny proposes that they go on trip around Europe. When they go to visit the local bookmaker, Bunny convinces Stephen to break the habit of a lifetime and take a risk by putting fifty pounds on a rank outsider. They win and then use the £2,500 winnings to pay for the trip. Along the way they stumble across several interesting characters including: a demented dog-loving tramp (Julian Barratt
Julian Barratt
Julian Barratt is an English comedian, musician, music producer and actor. Barratt is best known for playing the character of Howard Moon in the cult comedy The Mighty Boosh, which he also co-writes with comedy partner, Noel Fielding.-The Mighty Boosh:Barratt stars as the character Howard Moon...
), an alcoholic ex-matador (Noel Fielding
Noel Fielding
Noel Fielding is a British artist, comedian and actor. He is known for his roles as Vince Noir in The Mighty Boosh, which he co-writes with comedy partner Julian Barratt, and as team captain on the music panel show Never Mind the Buzzcocks.-Stand-up comedy:Noel Fielding performed regularly as a...
), a dull tour-guide (Richard Ayoade
Richard Ayoade
Richard Ellef Ayoade is a British comedian, actor, writer and director best known for his role as Maurice Moss in The IT Crowd.Ayoade was born an only child to a Norwegian mother, Dagny , and a Nigerian father, Layide Ade Laditi Ayoade. Ayoade studied at St...
) and a superstitious waitress Eloisa (Veronica Echegui), with whom both Bunny and Stephen start a relationship.
Stephen is a nervous vegetarian who prepares himself well for every journey—he is definitely the more sensible of the two friends.
Bunny is slightly crooked: loves a bet, loves alcohol and definitely loves sex. Later on in the film Bunny's gambling ways eventually lead him into losing a suit that he stole from the former matador to a gypsy (he wasn't supposed to go anywhere near the suit and it was bad enough he even wore it). This all happens as soon Stephen has had intercourse with Eloisa (he clearly has more feelings for her than Bunny who sleeps with several women throughout the film). Bunny begs Stephen to help him which he agrees to eventually (when explaining the whole story to Eloisa, Stephen gets punched in the face by her which clearly upsets him). Eventually the duo catch a train (presumably to go home); Stephen starts becoming firm with Bunny and tells him he has never really achieved anything and that the only reason they went to Spain anyway was to fight a bull. Bunny says that if Stephen wants him to fight a bull then he will. Bunny finds a large bull which is made from clockwork and household objects. After fighting the bull for awhile Bunny begins to leave, at which point the bull charges towards him and as it does it becomes real, its horns goring Bunny in the chest causing him to fall down dead. Stephen, possibly blaming himself for his friend's death, hasn't left his house since. Back to the present Stephen is imagining Bunny sitting by his side talking to him about women. Bunny advises Stephen to talk to Eloisa. Stephen gives her a call (it is not heard what is being said) and after this gets ready to leave the house still seeing Bunny in a vision. Bunny asks if he can put a bet on a horse and tells him its a shoo-in and is worth betting his whole house on. Stephen turns around to Bunny one last time before leaving to find that Bunny has disappeared. Stephen steps outside venturing out into the world once again and shuts the door behind him. The credits roll.
Cast
- Edward HoggEdward HoggEdward Hogg is an English actor, known for portraying Jesco White in White Lightnin and Stephen Turnbull in Bunny and the Bull.-Background:...
as Stephen Turnbull - Simon FarnabySimon FarnabySimon Alexander Farnaby is an English comedy actor and writer in television, theatre and film.-Early life:Born in Wath-upon-Dearne, South Yorkshire, Farnaby trained at the Webber Douglas Academy of Dramatic Art, National Youth Theatre, and Trinity College, Dublin...
as Bunny - Verónica Echegui as Eloisa
- Noel FieldingNoel FieldingNoel Fielding is a British artist, comedian and actor. He is known for his roles as Vince Noir in The Mighty Boosh, which he co-writes with comedy partner Julian Barratt, and as team captain on the music panel show Never Mind the Buzzcocks.-Stand-up comedy:Noel Fielding performed regularly as a...
as Javier - Richard AyoadeRichard AyoadeRichard Ellef Ayoade is a British comedian, actor, writer and director best known for his role as Maurice Moss in The IT Crowd.Ayoade was born an only child to a Norwegian mother, Dagny , and a Nigerian father, Layide Ade Laditi Ayoade. Ayoade studied at St...
as Museum Curator - Julian BarrattJulian BarrattJulian Barratt is an English comedian, musician, music producer and actor. Barratt is best known for playing the character of Howard Moon in the cult comedy The Mighty Boosh, which he also co-writes with comedy partner, Noel Fielding.-The Mighty Boosh:Barratt stars as the character Howard Moon...
as Atilla
Production
The film was produced by Mary Burke at Warp XWarp X
Warp X is a British film production company, separate from Warp Films based in Sheffield, UK with further offices in Nottingham and London The company was founded in 2005 and produces feature films.-Company:...
(Warp Films
Warp Films
Warp is one of the foremost and most respected creative independent companies, now composed of Warp Records, Warp Films and Warp Music Videos & Commercials. It is based in London, England and Sheffield, with a further office now in Melbourne, Australia...
digital slate) with financing from Film4
Film4
Film4 is a free digital television channel available in the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland, owned and operated by Channel 4, that screens films.-Programming:...
, UK Film Council
UK Film Council
The UK Film Council was set up in 2000 by the Labour Government as a non-departmental public body to develop and promote the film industry in the UK. It was constituted as a private company limited by guarantee governed by a board of 15 directors and was funded through sources including the...
, EM Media, and Screen Yorkshire and filmed at King's Meadow Campus
King's Meadow Campus
King's Meadow Campus is a campus, that is part of the University of Nottingham, and is located in Nottingham. It opened in 1983, as a television studio complex, called East Midlands Television Centre from 1983 till 1994 and Carlton Studios from 1994 till 2005.-East Midlands Television Centre...
of the University of Nottingham for 5 weeks. Paul King, having previously directed and associate directed cult favourites The Mighty Boosh
The Mighty Boosh (TV series)
The Mighty Boosh is a British comedy television show created by Julian Barratt, Noel Fielding and others . The Mighty Boosh is a comic fantasy containing humour and pop-culture references. Episodes often featured elaborate musical numbers in different genres, such as electro, heavy metal, funk, and...
and Garth Marenghi's Darkplace
Garth Marenghi's Darkplace
Garth Marenghi's Darkplace is a British dark comedy show made for Channel 4 by Matthew Holness and Richard Ayoade. Following on from Garth Marenghi's Netherhead, which won the 2001 Perrier Awards, the show revolves around fictional horror author Garth Marenghi and his publisher Dean Learner...
respectively on television, uses a similar surreal, nonsensical, and occasional dark style in the film. Like many projects made by ex-contributors of Garth Marenghi and Boosh, the film features several other ex-contributors such as Noel Fielding
Noel Fielding
Noel Fielding is a British artist, comedian and actor. He is known for his roles as Vince Noir in The Mighty Boosh, which he co-writes with comedy partner Julian Barratt, and as team captain on the music panel show Never Mind the Buzzcocks.-Stand-up comedy:Noel Fielding performed regularly as a...
, Julian Barratt
Julian Barratt
Julian Barratt is an English comedian, musician, music producer and actor. Barratt is best known for playing the character of Howard Moon in the cult comedy The Mighty Boosh, which he also co-writes with comedy partner, Noel Fielding.-The Mighty Boosh:Barratt stars as the character Howard Moon...
, Richard Ayoade
Richard Ayoade
Richard Ellef Ayoade is a British comedian, actor, writer and director best known for his role as Maurice Moss in The IT Crowd.Ayoade was born an only child to a Norwegian mother, Dagny , and a Nigerian father, Layide Ade Laditi Ayoade. Ayoade studied at St...
and Simon Farnaby
Simon Farnaby
Simon Alexander Farnaby is an English comedy actor and writer in television, theatre and film.-Early life:Born in Wath-upon-Dearne, South Yorkshire, Farnaby trained at the Webber Douglas Academy of Dramatic Art, National Youth Theatre, and Trinity College, Dublin...
, King admits "I’ve basically cast it off my speed-dial."
Reception
Bunny and the Bull received mostly positive reviews.Empire
Empire (magazine)
Empire is a British film magazine published monthly by Bauer Consumer Media. From the first issue in July 1989, the magazine was edited by Barry McIlheney and published by Emap. Bauer purchased Emap Consumer Media in early 2008...
rated the film at four stars (out of a maximum five), describing it as "charmingly crafted and willfully daft". The film was compared to Michel Gondry
Michel Gondry
Michel Gondry is an Academy Award winning filmmaker, whose works include being a commercial director, music video director, and a screenwriter. He is noted for his inventive visual style and manipulation of mise en scène. - Life and career :...
's 2004 film Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind is a 2004 American romantic science fiction film about an estranged couple who have each other erased from their memories, scripted by Charlie Kaufman and directed by the French director, Michel Gondry. The film uses elements of science fiction, psychological...
in theme and appearance, with the exception that Bunny and the Bull "manages to tramp down its whimsy with a rich vein of very silly, very British comedy". Charles Watson of underground film magazine Slant spouted that it was "a daft tale of wit and woe, with recognisable actors that go straight into their comfort zones making it as crafty and clever as possible."