Bunny Whipped (2007)

Director:

Rafael Riera

Writer:

Rafael Riera

Release Date:

April 2007 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy

Tagline:

Save the Rabbit. Save Your Love Life.

Plot:

A quirky romantic comedy that follows the interweaving story of a sports writer and a rap star. |

Cast

Dan Warner	...	(credit only)
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Joey Lauren Adams	...	Ann
Laz Alonso	...	Kenny Kent
Pedro Miguel Arce	...	Security Guard
Ike Barinholtz	...	Joe
Dre Bowie	...	Groupie
Eric Bradley	...	Additional Voices
Damian Cecere	...	Police Officer
Gianna Costa	...	Delivery Girl
Marki Costello	...	Wanda
Kateri DeMartino	...	Supporting
Robert Devine	...	Security Guard
David Douglas	...	Spy Shop Clerk
Eric Edelstein	...	Paul Hazel
Ethan Ednee	...	Thomas
Chad Foushee	...	Mr. Jones
Richie Frahm	...	As himself
Rebecca Gayheart	...	Beatriz Magdalene Johnson
Trae Ireland	...	Filthy Stank
Jake Johnson	...	Basketball Player (as Jake M. Johnson)
Jack Kennedy	...	Man In Black
Ross Kurt	...	Security Guard
James Lamkin	...	Anchorman
Jennifer Lauryn	...	Minnie
Michelle Lawrence	...	Girl at Bar
Tony Longo	...	Sandro
Fred Maske	...	Cracker Jack
Amanda Noret	...	Jennifer
Esteban Powell	...	Bob Whipple
Brande Roderick	...	Casey
Angela Shelton	...	Paul's Assistant
Rachel Weil	...	Rachel Van Buren
Emilee Wilson	...	Beautiful Woman
Eric Thomas Wilson	...	Sweeny

Directed by
Rafael Riera

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Rafael Riera

Produced by
Ty Donaldson	....	producer
Rafael Riera	....	co-producer
George Roberson	....	associate producer
Julian Sanchez	....	co-producer

Original Music by
Jessika Zen

Cinematography by
Bob Brill

Film Editing by
Godfrey Pye

Casting by
Billy Kemp

Production Design by
Josh Ritcher

Art Direction by
Adriano Valle

Costume Design by
Amanda Vinopal		(as Amanda Scholl)

Makeup Department
Emily Jean	....	key makeup artist
Yvonne Wang	....	makeup artist

Production Management
Ty Donaldson	....	post-production supervisor
Ty Donaldson	....	production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Thomas E. Nicholson	....	first assistant director
Morgan Rhodes	....	second assistant director

Art Department
D.W. Frydendall	....	lead storyboard

Sound Department
Sarah F. Badiee	....	sound effects editor
Miriam Cole	....	adr coordinator
Casey A. Fife	....	sound effects editor
Andrew Ing	....	foley editor
Andrew Ing	....	sound effects editor
Michael J. McDonald	....	sound re-recording mixer (as Michael McDonald)
Michael J. McDonald	....	supervising sound editor (as Michael McDonald)
John Sanacore	....	foley mixer
Alex Ullrich	....	foley artist
George Whittam	....	sound recordist

Visual Effects by
Ciril Koshyk	....	visual effects supervisor (as Cyryl Koszyk)

Camera and Electrical Department
Jesse Crusing	....	electrician
Jesse Crusing	....	grip
Justin DeNino	....	gaffer
Jim Firios	....	grip
Chris Norris	....	grip
Justin Owensby	....	grip

Animation Department
D.W. Frydendall	....	animator

Editorial Department
Diego Borghello	....	editor: electronic press kit (uncredited)

Other crew
Andrew Garcia	....	production assistant (as Andy Garcia)
Paul W. Hazen	....	film acquisitions representative
Christina Northrup	....	production assistant
David Albert Pierce	....	production counsel
Erin Tambellini	....	script supervisor

Production Companies

• Washington Street Productions
• Buddha-Cowboy Productions

Distributors

• THINKFilm (2007) (Canada) (all media)
• THINKFilm (2007) (USA) (all media)

Other Companies

• Pierce Law Group  producer's representative
• Private Island Audio  audio post-production facility

Also Known As:

MPAA:

Rated R for language

Runtime:

USA:91 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Certification:

USA:R

Filming Locations:

Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Washington Street Productions

Cute shoestring-budget flick with some of the funniest scenes I've ever watched

"The Amazing Spider-Man" had a budget of $230,000,000. "Bunny Whipped" was made for $900k. Although at times noticeable, don't let its low budget turn you off. This is a nice flick with a few priceless moments, a few lame ones, but overall a fun ride. It's one of those films where the plot isn't particularly clever or engaging, but the individual moments of comedy are.

If you're wondering, the plot is about a loser who uses his amazing powers of absolutely-nothing to thwart crime. It gets interesting when he gets embroiled in a rap star murder mystery (the murder itself is probably the funniest death since Ricardo Montalban got run over by a marching band in "Naked Gun"). And at the same time he's trying to get a grip on his miserable love life, in spite of the "help" from his loser friends.

Although the plot is a little saggy, there are at least half a dozen scenes that are guaranteed to give you a hearty lol. First there are the riotously bad rap songs like "Riches and Bitches" and "Tap that A$$" with awesome lyrics like "I got more hoes than toes!" complete with mocked up, over-the-top music videos. Then there's the comedic banter between the rapper "Godfather" and his wiseguy henchman who keeps trying to finish the rapper's sentences, much to the rappers furious dismay (like "If you don't do what I say, she'll be sleeping with the..." "...fish?" "No...guppies! Sleeping with the guppies!"). There's also the self-help expert who is about as insightful as a bad fortune cookie (be sure to stick around after the credits roll to see his horrible PSA on sexually transmitted diseases), the flakey newswoman who's more interested in getting some than actual news reporting. There's a bizarro girl who constantly wears a pageant ribbon proclaiming her to be "Miss Most Awesomely Awesome Woman" and a bunch of other oddball characters it would take me too long to describe.

So you see where I'm going with this? "Bunny Whipped" is funny & entertaining NOT for its plot but for the weird moments that have nothing to do with the plot.

Like I said, if you can overlook the low budget production vibe, if you can overlook the 2-dimensional plot, if you can overlook the fact that it has practically nothing to do with saving bunnies, as the title and DVD box say, then sit down and have a watch.

Another comedy about a questionable superhero is the excellent film "Special" (2006). That one is a must see.