...
DVD Features
Directors Diary
Building a Better Bubble Suit
Production Design Gallery
Storyboard: Niagra Falls
Audio Commentary
Summary
Like I said, this film isn't going to win any awards, but there is something so unbelieveabley sweet about it that it just manages to charm it's way into ... Read review
Innocuous, innocent and somewhat idiotic, Disney's bubbleheaded road-movie comedyBubble ... more
Boyplays as a farcical remake of the 1976 cult TV-movie melodramaThe Boy in the Plastic Bubble. Jake Gyllenhaal is the good-hearted innocent raised in a sort of hum...
Postage & Packaging: £1.21 Availability: Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days...
Bubble Boy is the hilarious, laugh-out-loud comedy about a sheltered young man who breaks ... more
all the rules on a wild adventure to get the girl of his dreams. Although he's lived his entire life within the confines of a protective plastic bubble and under ...
Innocuous, innocent and somewhat idiotic, Disney's bubbleheaded road-movie comedyBubble ... more
Boyplays as a farcical remake of the 1976 cult TV-movie melodramaThe Boy in the Plastic Bubble. Jake Gyllenhaal is the good-hearted innocent raised in a sort of hum...
Postage & Packaging: Free! Availability: Usually dispatched within 24 hours...
Life Is An Adventure. Don't Blow It. From a producer of the outrageous 'Austin Powers: ... more
The Spy Who Shagged Me' 'Bubble Boy' is the hilarious laugh-out-loud comedy about a sheltered young man (Jake Gyllenhaal) who breaks all the rules on a wild adven...
Postage & Packaging: £0.00 Availability: 3-5 working days
Innocuous, innocent and somewhat idiotic, Disney's bubbleheaded road-movie comedyBubble ... more
Boyplays as a farcical remake of the 1976 cult TV-movie melodramaThe Boy in the Plastic Bubble. Jake Gyllenhaal is the good-hearted innocent raised in a sort of human Habitrail of plastic rooms and rubber tunnels. To win back the girl of his dreams (Marley Shelton), he steps out of his indoor greenhouse and into a homemade Ziplock bubble suit. It's the usual story: naive innocent bounces down the highway like a beach ball with legs and wins over the wacky supporting cast of soft-hearted bikers, zombie-like teenage cultists and orphaned "freaks" through purity and pluck. The premise wears thin after a while, but Gyllenhaal keeps the film bounding along with goofy innocence and energetic eagerness. Swoosie Kurtz costars as his religious-zealot clinging mom. Watch for Fabio in an inspired cameo. --Sean AxmakerOn the DVD:Bubble Boycontains a surprising amount of special features for what is essentially a B-movie comedy. These include a long winded multi-interview about the main star of the film, the Bubble suit itself; a director's diary, charting the events around the time of filming the movie; a "Production Design Gallery" including intricate pencil drawings and a story board of the Niagara Falls sequence. Along with this, director Blair Hayes and Jake Gyllenhaal offer a gabbled conversation rather than a commentary. --Nikki Disney
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Comedy - Original Language: English - Classification: 12 years and over - Starring: Tessa Peake-Jones, Buster Merryfield, David Jason, Nicholas Lyndhurst
Comedy - Director: Tony Dow - Original Language: English - Classification: 12 years and over - Starring: John Challis, David Jason, Nicholas Lyndhurst, Tessa Peake-Jones, Gwyneth Strong
Comedy - Director: Richard Boden, Mandie Fletcher, Martin Shardlow - Original Language: English - Classification: 15 years and over - Starring: Hugh Laurie, Miranda Richardson, Stephen Fry, Brian Blessed, Tim McInnerny, Tony Robinson, Rowan Atkinson
Advantages: Happy, light, upbeat and humourous, is very enjoyable despite it's flaws Disadvantages: A little short, poor story in some places
...years in a large plastic bubble and tubing through out the house, being heavily looked after by his over protective mother, who shields her son heavily from the outside world to bring him up on good religious morals. People mock the 'bubble boy' who lives in the house, but Jimmy lives a peacefully happy existence, obvious to all of this. Until someone new enters his life.
Chloe moves in next door and Jimmy is instantly smitten and intruiged ... ...journey begins. He makes a bubble suit from the material in his room, and sets off from his house, bounding down the road, desperate to stop the wedding in just a few days time.
I won't spoil the rest of the plot but it's a brilliant journey getting all the way to Naigra falls all the way from California, before his girl gets married. On the way he meets Slim, a biker who lost a love once too, a singing cult who all have the same name, ... more
I first came across this film as a fan of the actor Jake Gyllenhaal. I became a big fan of his after his parts in films such as Donnie Darko and Jarhead and so decided to watch all of his films. And as he takes the title role in this film, it was of course a must. I didn't however, know what I was letting myself in for. And so the next hour and a half that followed was a big surprise.
Plot
Jimmy Livingston was born. That's the start of the film. But more importantly Jimmy Livingston was born without any immunities, that is to say that he has no defences against bacteria. And so Jimmy is shielded from the world to make sure he doesn't die.
After a few years at the hospital his parents take him home, still in a bubble, and so he lives out his childhood and teenage years in a large plastic bubble and tubing through out the house, being heavily looked after by his over protective mother, who shields her son heavily from the outside world to bring him up on good religious morals. People mock the 'bubble boy' who lives in the house, but Jimmy lives a peacefully happy existence, obvious to all of this. Until someone new enters his life.
Chloe moves in next door and Jimmy is instantly smitten and intruiged and soon finds himself very attracted to her, though once again his mother tries to protect him. That is until one day Chloe comes into the house and introduces herself. At first she feels sorry for Jimmy, he obviously as a sheltered life and so she starts visiting him through pity, though as time goes by, they become good friends, but Chloe becomes increasingly frustrated that they can't be together as a couple.
Years later she has accepted it will never be and so gets engaged. Jimmy is hurt when she tells him and so she leaves forever... but Jimmy then realises he can't let her go. And this is where his journey begins. He makes a bubble suit from the material in his room, and sets off from his house, bounding down the road, desperate to stop the wedding in just a few days time.
I won't spoil the rest of the plot but it's a brilliant journey getting all the way to Naigra falls all the way from California, before his girl gets married. On the way he meets Slim, a biker who lost a love once too, a singing cult who all have the same name, a group of freaks and their owner, Dr. Phreak, a curry and ice cream van driver as well as a large other host of characters, all of whom help, or hinder Jimmy's progress to the wedding. And all of this is while his parents try to track him down, especially his mother being concerned with what her poor Jimmy could be up too. Does he make it? Does he stop the wedding? Well I won't spoil the end, but there's also a great twist, and I will hint that this movie is just the kind that screams out for a happy ending.
Main Cast
Jimmy Livingston - Jake Gyllenhaal Mrs. Livingston - Swoosie Kurtz Mr. Livingston- John Carroll Lynch Chloe - Marley Shelton Slim - Danny Trejo Dr. Phreak - Verne Troyer Mark - Dave Sheridan
Information
Running Time - 80 minutes Rating - 12 for moderate language and sex references Company - Touchstone Pictures Director - Blair Hayes
Plot Review
The main plus of this movie is simply how happy and upbeat it is. I absolutely had a blast the first time I watched it, just because it put me in an amazing mood by simply being charming and enjoyable. The plot is light, and the characters are all very likeable and you instantly get drawn into the film.
I will admit it's not the best film. The writing is sometimes lacking and some scenes are a bit off, but this isn't the type of film where a great script is the reason to watch it. This film thrives on being light and silly. It is by no means a film for everyone, as it doesn't have gripping drama, or lots of action, but if you open your mind for a cheerful film then I think you can enjoy this.
One of the main highlights is the touching ending, which marks a great climax for the film and really tugs on your emotions, as by this point you really feel for Jimmy's plight, especially if you've been in love yourself as Jake Gyllenhaal portrays the part of innocent Jimmy with the perfect amount of sweetness that really makes you connect with the character. Swoosie Kurtz also portrays the controlling mother perfectly, and becomes a great 'villan' of the movie, which contrasts Jimmy's father heavily, as he gives one of the sweetest moments of the film where Jimmy is found by his parents, but his Dad encourages him to go on.
Another great thing about thing is the humour througout. Whilst it's nothing extremely clever, it once again has charm, mostly thanks to the character of Jimmy, and there are several laugh out loud moments in the film. Again this just makes the film even more charming and perfect for just a light viewing experience.
DVD Features
Directors Diary Building a Better Bubble Suit Production Design Gallery Storyboard: Niagra Falls Audio Commentary
Summary
Like I said, this film isn't going to win any awards, but there is something so unbelieveabley sweet about it that it just manages to charm it's way into your heart. I have shared it with many friends, and they agree how nice the film is, and is perfect silly film to watch with a group of friends on a movie night, or perhaps if you just need cheering up, because it's undeniable that this film has what it takes to put a smile on your face.
Advantages: great comedy, nice filming, good acting Disadvantages: quite short, can be silly
...of a boy in a bubble suit, the farcical comedy of about five different groups of people trying to find him, and some downright stupid bits. I wasn’t really convinced, it sounded like something my Dad (as a big fan of ‘Baby’s Day Out’) would probably enjoy; but when I saw it on eBay for a fiver, I decided to buy it for his birthday, and kill two birds with one stone.
We finally watched it last weekend, 2 months after his birthday, and I have to admit ... ...about a boy in a bubble suit then?***
Basically, yes. A young boy called Jimmy (Jake Gyllanhaal) is born without immunities, and is forced to live his childhood in a huge bubble room his parents have built. His mother educates him, all his meals are passed through the decontaminator, and he lives happily encased inside, but alone, for about 18 years.
His life is changed when new neighbour, Chloe (Marley Shelton), starts coming to visit him every ...
pesky33 03.05.2004 (20.06.2004)
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Bubble Boy (DVD)
Advantages: Jake Gyllenhaal, funny, different! Disadvantages: Some lame jokes
Bubble Boy (2001) Touchstone Home Entertainment - rated PG
Running Time: 84 minutes
Cast: Jimmy Livingston - Jake Gyllenhaal Mrs. Livingston - Swoosie Kurtz Chloe - Marley Shelton Slim - Danny Trejo Mr. Livingston - John Carroll Lynch Mark's Sister - Ever Carradine Dr. Phreak - Verne Troyer Mark - Dave Sheridan Pushpak - Brian George Pippy - Patrick Cranshaw Chicken Man - Stephen Spinella Flipper Boy - Geoffrey Arend Li'l Zip - Beetlejuice Gil ... ...Ken Daurio Bubble Boy is a romantic comedy starring the beautiful Jake Gyllenhall as Jimmy Livingston. Jimmy was born without immunities which consequently meat that he had to live the remainder of his days within a bubble. His mother is a strict Christian who won’t let anyone near Jimmy and lets him think that the world is a bad place and that the bubble is the safest place to be. The film starts with him narrating as a baby growing into a small ...
Kat_Lov 15.06.2004
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Bubble Boy (DVD)
Advantages: Jake Gyllenhaal, funny-as-hell, totally bizaare comedy Disadvantages: Lot's of people seem to be easily offended by this film.
I consider Bubble Boy to be the dark horse of all Disney films. I first came accross is after my little sister rented it out from Blockbuster, and asked me if I wanted to watch it. My first reaction was to turn my nose up, thinking it would be another Disney feel good family film. However, after being bullied into watching - I was the one rolling around in histerics, and my sister the one slightly peed off that she wasted her money on a film she ... ...has been encased in a bubble for probably all of his life, due to the fact that he was born without any immunities. He seems quite content living under the over protective gaze of his hyper-religious mother, until the girl of his dreams, Chloe, moves in next door. They eventually meet and become close friends, but sadly the bubble prevents a relationship blossoming between the two. Pretty soon, Chloe meets someone new and decides to run off to Niagra ...
x_ska_baby_x 17.01.2005
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful Review of Bubble Boy (DVD)
Advantages: Funny,Romantic, An original idea. never a dull moment. Disadvantages: Can be a little immature at times,.
...road movie. And, oh, the bubble becomes (are you ready for this) a METAPHOR for playing life too safe!!
As Jimmy hits the road, getting lifts along the way while chased by his parents, first-time director Blair Hayes cuts loose with Cinco Paul and Ken Daurio's racist and moronic screenplay to introduce us to a spaced-out religious cult, a friendly biker, Slim (Danny Trejo), an obnoxious Dr. Phreak (Verne Troyer) who leads a circus of miserable-looking ... ...David had the name of Bubble Boy. "His life was not a comedy," she states about the lad who was the only boy who had lived in a bubble from birth. She believes the film mocks her son's memory. However I think that this film clearly states how he is either frowned or welcomed into a society as when he meets some people they "freak out" at his unusual apperance but when he meets others they dont seem to care at all. ...
fudgeit20 21.02.2006
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: somewhat helpful Review of Bubble Boy (DVD)
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Advantages: Travolta's good, the characters are okay and the plots a good basis Disadvantages: Not so-good soundtrack, quality or acting
capable of taking it.
All in all, I would recommend a watch, for the simple factor of it being different, and the basis of the plot - the boy in the plastic bubble. If you do watch it, be prepared for the worst quality you've seen in a while (but hey, it is colour, and thats something!), a dull soundtrack and some not-so-good pieces of acting, with a few dodgy camera shots. Despite this, the storyline will make you smile and empathise with Todd. All I can say is dont spend too much on the DVD, or you will feel you haven't got enough for your money.
Also, the ending is a bit of a disappointment - it doesn't give you the closure as to what happens that you'd expect. It leaves it hanging, and of course a sequel would be out of the question once you've seen it, so you have no idea what happens to Tod. There isn't even a text ending as in some ...
A boy who is born without a natural immune system lives his life inside a bubble in his bedroom. When he discovers that the love of his life is about to marry another man he builds a bubble suit and sets off to win his girl's heart in a journey full of mayhem...
Release details
DVD Region
DVD
Studio(s)
Touchstone Home Video; Technicolor Distribution Services
Release date
15/06/2006
No of Discs
1
Catalogue No
BED 888504
Barcode
5017188885041
Screenwriter
Cinco Paul, Ken Daurio
Director of Photography
Jerzy Zielinski
Languages
Main Language
English
Technical information
Special Features
Documentary - 1. BUILDING A BETTER BUBBLE SUITE, Audio Commentary - 1. Blaire Hayes - Director, Production Design Gallery, Storyboards
Professional reviews
Review
"...BUBBLE BOY is an updating of PEE WEE'S BIG ADVENTURE with a bit of THE GRADUATE thrown in....[Featuring] some rambunctiously funny set pieces that are like nothing else you'll see this summer....The picture should shock you into laughter..." (New York Times, p.E10, 24/08/2001)
"...Goofy fun....Gyllenhaal plays Jimmy with a wide-eyed sweetness..." (USA Today, p.7E, 24/08/2001)
DVD Description
BUBBLE BOY is a zany and lighthearted but irreverent road comedy from music video director Blair Hayes. Jake Gyllenhaal (OCTOBER SKY) stars as Jimmy Livingston, a young man born with an immune deficiency, who is forced to spend his life inside a sterile plastic bubble. His overprotective, fanatical right-wing Christian mother (Swoosie Kurtz) doesn't let him have friends, and the only TV show she lets him watch is LAND OF THE LOST. The pretty girl next door, Chloe (Marley Shelton) visits him, and the two become friends. Because they can't touch each other through his bubble, they keep their passions in check, but when Chloe goes to Niagara Falls to marry her creepy boyfriend, Jimmy builds a portable bubble and leaves home for the first time to stop her. BUBBLE BOY may offend some with its jokes involving religion and sex and physical deformity, but it's clear that the filmmakers push the envelope, not simply to shock, but to make cogent points about tolerance. The film features surprisingly strong and funny supporting performances from Vern Troyer (Mini-Me from AUSTIN POWERS) and Fabio. In the lead role, Gyllenhaal projects such genuine wide-eyed sweetness that it's impossible not to root for him.
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