‘The Bubble’ (2022) | Movie Review

Directed By:

Judd Apatow

Written By:

Judd Apatow, Pam Brady

Starring:

Karen Gillan, Iris Apatow, Pedro Pascal, Leslie Mann, David Duchovny, Keegan-Michael Key, Fred Armisen, Kate McKinnon, Harry Trevaldwyn

Genre:

Comedy

Rated: R for language throughout, sexual content, drug use and some violence

All media used courtesy of Netflix

What a week to have THIS come out! Yes, regardless if we’re now being drowned with Will Smith slapping Chris Brown talking points and hot takes, we have a new Judd Apatow film that may be sending a message that we all could share in. That celebrity drama is meaningless. Karen Gillan playes an actress signing back on to a film franchise she’d thought she’d left behind. In COVID times, studios are desperate to get films out to the public, and in order for that to happen safely, have locked down the entire set referred to as “The Bubble”. In the bubble the celebrities starring in their respective roles can feel secure in their safety, but as the weeks turn to months and multiple quarantines, everyone begins to have their true selves come out as they attempt to either escape, or finish the film.

The Bubble feels very similar to films like “Tropic Thunder” but with a different scope. Imagine what real-life experiences of working on a film set during the early stages of COVID-19 would be, and then eggagerate them all for comedy and you’ve got this story. I loved specifically Pedro Pascal, Leslie Mann, Fred Armisen, just to name a few. There are some celebrity cameos even that in one particular scene is so random but incredible I loved it.

With most of Judd Apatow’s work, the runtime is a little too baggy. I would try to trim out some of the mid section and maybe some of the improv moments that may not hit as hard as others, but honestly this is a fun film that has some on the note commentary about famous people and their perceptions but it also is a bit of a humor for society needing the newest thing, and corporate greed over workers being treated fair and taken care of.

It’s out on Netflix now, definitely a recommend for me in a week of duds in the theaters.

Rating: 6 out of 10.
Patrick Beatty
Patrick Beatty

Patrick Beatty is a film critic and creator of PatrickBeattyReviews.com and the Gaggle of Geeks Podcast network. Watch him Friday’s on ABC4 Good Things Utah talk about movies and follow all his work in the link below.

Leave a Reply