Bunny and the Bull: Netflix Edition

Now, first thing's first - if you've never seen The Mighty Boosh, go and watch it NOW. At least scroll down to the bottom of the post, and click the link to watch the first episode.  Don't even take the time to finish reading the rest of my post, just come back to it later. I'll wait...

Okay, now has everyone watched at least a few episodes of The Mighty Boosh? Good. Time to get back to the movie pick for this week.

The first feature film from writer and director Paul King, director the cult television series The Mighty Boosh (see the connection now,) Bunny and the Bull follows an emotional basket case as he thinks back on the friend who made him that way.

Stephen, played by Edward Hogg, is a neurotic young man suffering from agoraphobia. As he toys with the idea of going out for food, he recalls a vacation in Europe with his former best friend Bunny, played Simon Farnaby.

While Stephen is quiet and shy, Bunny is outgoing to a fault. He chases women, guzzles booze and is willing to bet on anything. After Stephen is dumped by his girlfriend, Bunny suggests a trip to Europe to cure his blues. Soon after, Bunny wins a bet and the two officially decide to take the trip. Things suddenly take a turn for the worst after Stephen develops a crush on Eloisa, played by Veronica Echegui, a waitress at a local fast food chain. However, much to Stephen's dismay, Bunny sweeps her off her feet before he can make a move. The situation becomes even more complicated after Eloisa takes the two on a trip to her hometown in Spain.

Now I don't want to spoil the rest of the movie for you, but don't you worry, you're guaranteed plenty of whimsical oddballs, including a Hungarian vagrant named Attila whose drink of choice is dog's milk, a suave yet down-to-earth bullfighter, and a dry museum tour guide. Though it is no surprise these roles are played by The Mighty Boosh's Julian Barratt and Noel Fielding, respectively, Bunny and the Bull is anything but Mighty Boosh: The Movie.

The production design is easily my favorite part of the film. The movie is played out against a semi-animated, endlessly inventive handcrafted backdrops. This includes an underpass made from newspaper, a fairground made from clock parts and a bull made out of cutlery, not to mention a wonderful credit sequence, which utilises everything in Stephen's flat from pocket calculators to postage stamps.

Though the film is, without a doubt, well made, I felt that its script was lacking. Especially compared to any episode of The Mighty Boosh. However, do not let that stop you from watching. It's a great film, and is the perfect example of the difference between British and American comedy.

You can view the trailer for the film below, and you can check out the first episode of The Mighty Boosh here.