Now, on to the film.
I loved the film Something Wild, in which Melanie Griffith hijacks a bored Jeff Daniels and takes him for the ride of his life. Like BUB, I loved the unpredictability and potential danger at every corner. For better or for worse, there was never a dull moment. BUB was that kind of movie.
At the beginning, we see that Cary Grant is tied down to his job and life. Even his finance won’t allow him to take a honeymoon, as it will interrupt his job. It’s evident that he is oppressed, and reluctant to say anything. But then comes his unexpected savoir, an independent, footloose and fancy free, Katharine Hepburn.
I thought the physical humor worked very well in this film. There were just enough slips and falls that it didn’t seem like an over-the-top Three Stooges episode. I think physical humor can only succeed for so long before it becomes tiresome (which probably explains why Three Stooges capers are only about 20 minutes long). BUB didn’t solely depend on physical humor, but it also had a lot of quick wit and a very unpredictable storyline that balanced it out.
I also enjoyed the romantic moments of the film. It was fun to watch Cary Grant’s reluctant affection for Hepburn unfold as his feelings for her strengthened with each awkward situation. I found Hepburn’s character very carefree and attractive. Once she was sold on the idea that Grant was infatuated with her, she was convinced that they were meant to be together.
One of my favorite scenes was when she sends his clothes out to the cleaners and he’s wearing her aunt’s robe. When Hepburn is telling his aunt that he has just had a nervous breakdown, he responds by saying "I just want to get married." I love the look on Hepburn’s face as she imagines that he’s talking about her (although we know he’s referring to his fiancé). Earlier in that scene, I also enjoyed when the aunt asks why he’s wearing a woman’s robe and he spontaneously shouts, "I just woke up this morning and turned gay!" This, of course, was probably very funny to Hollywood insiders as Grant was rumored for years to have been homosexual.
As the romance between Grant and Hepburn strengthened, the entire "ride" reminded me of the screwball road picture It Happened One Night. If you haven’t seen that one (it was released in 1934, four years before BUB), it’s a must! It’s a screwball, romantic comedy about two strangers who fall in love after a series of misadventures. It’s also one of the most honored films of all-time, winning Oscars for Best Picture, Best Actor, Best Actress, Best Director (Frank Capra), and Best Screenplay.
A couple of other points to note about BUB… First, in several of the scenes with the leopard, I noticed that there is glass separating the animal from the actors. I first noticed it when Grant encounters the leopard for the first time in Hepburn’s bathroom. As he walks in, you can see the leopard’s reflection in the glass.
Second is the awkward dinner scene where they rip each other’s clothes. After he rips the back of her dress, they huddle into a corner and plan their escape so nobody notices. Right before they start walking together, she demands for him to "get closer." As he bumps into the back of her, she gives out a slight moan and looks like she’s in ecstasy. Maybe it was just me, (I rewound it a few times) but I thought that moment was extremely sexual.
Towards the end of the film, especially in the jailhouse, I was kind of exhausted and ready for it to be over. But I (and Tobin) really liked the find scene when the dinosaur came apart and he rescued her.
I thought the film was highly entertaining and Tobin loved the scenes with the leopard and the dog, but I’m not entirely convinced that it is a great movie. On a scale of 1-5, I give it 3 stars.