Bubble & Squeak, 2025.
Written and Directed by Evan Twohy.
Starring Himesh Patel, Sarah Goldberg, Steven Yeun, Dave Franco, Matt Berry, Ursel Tilk, Inga Salurand, Jaak Prints Ralf, Samuel Arulepp, Lauren Grinberg, Mika Lipartia, Andres Tabun, Zoë Chao, and Mo Gilligan.
SYNOPSIS:
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.
There is esoteric comedy, and then there is writer/director Evan Twohy’s Bubble & Squeak. With its aggressively deadpan tone that seems to be imitating a previous Sundance breakout, Napoleon Dynamite, one partially understands what the filmmaker is trying to do here in adapting his play. This particular riff on that style of comedy centers on honeymooning couple Declan (Himesh Patel) and Delores (Sarah Goldberg), withheld in customs for an unspecified European country prepared to execute anyone who smuggles in cabbages. During a war (also unspecified), all the citizens had to eat were cabbages, so now the vegetable has a soiled history and has been banned from the country. Delores also smells like cabbages.
It’s not long before they are on the run from a goofily threatening customs officer (Matt Berry doing a Warner Herzog impersonation), fending for their lives in lighthearted, absurd situations that allow for irreverent humor and undeniably alien dialogue exchanges between the married couple. Yes, the film is doing the classic bit where one fears for their life while the other seems to remain optimistic or finds something joyous even when surrounded by danger. Still, the conversations are fittingly bizarre for a movie about a country that hates cabbages.
Bubble & Squeak is also trying and woefully failing at telling a dramatic story of a strained marriage within this oddball tone, which is also its undoing. There is no reason to care about these people, primarily because the movie rarely makes any sense, even for the aspects that should contain some functioning real-world logic. Then there are jokes that not only feel forced but don’t even match up with the established personalities of these characters. Also, for anyone doubting that anything here should be taken remotely seriously, the film has a late sequence involving cabbages that are meant to make a point about Declan’s and Delores’ love for one another, except that goes on for several minutes and leaves one questioning what they are watching. It’s a pivotal moment intended to be funny and emotional that doesn’t only fall flat but actively drags on and on.
However, there are haystack churches said to be safe havens from harm, Dave Franco dressed up as a bear smuggling cabbages to sell to teenagers (apparently, young people are eager to either be rebellious or find out what they are missing out on) like a drug dealer, awkward fixations on what to name a theoretical child, and the amusing visual of Sarah Goldberg’s pants stuffed with cabbages which are somehow oblivious to Declan. Why is she smuggling in cabbages? Is it potentially a way to get back at him for complications in their marriage? It’s never explained. How is Declan so knowledgeable about this country but can’t win a tic-tac-toe game? It’s bumpy with a curious anticipation for whatever zany segment is next.
Bubble & Squeak is confounding, but I admittedly laughed at parts and the randomness of it all. It’s trying way too hard to get a reaction in many respects. The counterpoint is that the gags are inspired. However, without a reason to invest in the dramatic element or a way to connect to any of it, those jokes are hung out to dry in a misfire of a film.
Flickering Myth Rating – Film: ★ ★ / Movie: ★ ★ ★
Robert Kojder is a member of the Chicago Film Critics Association, Critics Choice Association, and Online Film Critics Society. He is also the Flickering Myth Reviews Editor. Check here for new reviews and follow my BlueSky or Letterboxd
