Bubble & Squeak - Review from the 2025 Sundance Film Festival

      Bubble & Squeak, 2025.

      Written and Directed by Evan Twohy.

      Featuring 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 bringing cabbages into a country where they are illegal, Declan and Delores must face the vulnerabilities of their new marriage while fleeing for their lives.

      There’s niche comedy, and then there’s writer/director Evan Twohy’s Bubble & Squeak. With a sharply deadpan tone reminiscent of the Sundance hit Napoleon Dynamite, one can grasp the filmmaker's intentions in adapting his stage play. This particular take on that comedic style revolves around newlyweds Declan (Himesh Patel) and Delores (Sarah Goldberg), detained at customs in an unspecified European nation ready to punish cabbage smugglers. During an unnamed war, the populace was limited to cabbages, which now have a tarnished reputation, resulting in their ban. Delores also has a cabbage-like scent.

      Before long, they find themselves evading a comically menacing customs officer (Matt Berry channeling Werner Herzog), scrambling for survival amid lighthearted, absurd scenarios that showcase irreverent humor and peculiar exchanges between the couple. The film employs the classic trope of one partner fearing for their life while the other remains upbeat or finds joy amid peril. Yet, the dialogues maintain an appropriately strange tone for a film set in a cabbage-hating nation.

      Bubble & Squeak also attempts, though unsuccessfully, to weave a dramatic narrative about a strained marriage within this quirky atmosphere, which ultimately undermines it. There’s little reason to invest in these characters, largely because the film often fails to make sense, even when attempting to employ real-world logic. Additionally, some jokes feel contrived and don’t align with the personalities of the characters. Furthermore, those who think the film should be taken seriously will be puzzled by a late sequence involving cabbages meant to illustrate Declan's and Delores's love, which drags on unnecessarily and raises questions about its intent. This moment, aimed to be both comedic and touching, instead becomes tedious and lacks impact.

      However, the film includes scenes featuring haystack churches claimed to be safe havens, Dave Franco in a bear costume trafficking cabbages to teenagers (who are apparently keen on rebellion or uncovering hidden experiences), awkward discussions about potential baby names, and the humorous sight of Sarah Goldberg's pants packed with cabbages, unbeknownst to Declan. Why is she bringing in cabbages? Could it be a way to retaliate against him for their marital issues? This remains unexplained. How does Declan possess knowledge about this nation yet lose at tic-tac-toe? The film is erratic, building curiosity for the next bizarre moment.

      Bubble & Squeak is perplexing, yet I found myself chuckling at various points due to its randomness. It leans heavily into provoking a reaction in many ways, despite the fact that the gags are creative. Nonetheless, without a compelling reason to engage with the dramatic storyline or relate to the characters, those jokes feel like they miss the mark in a misguided 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 Reviews Editor at Flickering Myth. Check here for new reviews and follow my BlueSky or Letterboxd.