Anna Faris Saves "House Bunny" by Recreating Marilyn Monroe as Sorority House Mother

    I must admit that when I sat down with my wife and middle daughter to watch "House Bunny," I didn't expect much, especially when I noticed it was a Happy Madison production. I must admit, I like most Adam Sandler movies, but as more and more are produced they are becoming rather formulaic. Of Course, Adam Sandler does not appear in this movie, but some of his regular buddies do. Mostly this movie is a vehicle for Anna Faris to show that she has the chops to be a top flight comedienne. Of course, if she does not shine the movie is a flop. Judging how much my wife and daughter laughed at Anna, the movie survives.

    Was it a standard Happy Madison formula Movie? Why yes it was. Pretty much the standard fare where the "vapid" blond meets a mosaic of obstacles, conquers them by shear will and wins in the end to almost everyone's applause. One may think this movie fails by my previous comments, and some surely may think it is a failure still, but it works for me because Anna Faris is so naturally funny. It seems effortless for her as it seemed effortless for her the week she hosted SNL - she's a natural. Her performance is like watching an attractive, but not Marilyn Monroe beautiful, young woman doing Marilyn, and yet better in that she is ahead of the sexist curve and still sexy. I take my proverbial hat off to her for making her clueless character, Shelley Darlingson, interesting as ultimately a successful house mother for sorority Zeta Alpha Zeta.

    The girls under her watch: Emma Stone as Natalie, Kat Dennings as Mona, Rumer Willis (Bruce's daughter) as Joanne, Kiely Williams as Lilly, Dana Goodman as Carrie Mae and Katherine McPhee (think American Idol) as Harmony are what some of their contemporizes would call losers, and in a dire need of a make-over. Anna Faris helps these young women find their inner woman - mostly after the young men on campus discovered it first. Sound like a weak story line? It is.

    If not for Anna Faris this movie would have failed miserably and with her it wins 2 1/4 stars in just 97 minutes of runtime. Not bad entertainment, especially if you don't expect much.

    Released in December 19, 2008. Rated PG13.