Bubble Boy (2001)
Trivia
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Spoilers (1)
Danny Trejo loved playing his role because he doesn't get killed and he didn't have to kill anyone else.
The scene in the club before the mud wrestling was all improvised by Jake Gyllenhaal and Ping Wu, including the "FIVE HUNDRED DOLLAR!" line.
The tattoos on Danny Trejo's chest "Debbie" (his wife) and "Danielle" (his daughter) are real, and were crossed over for the movie.
Jake Gyllenhaal loved falling over for fun in the bubble suit, at random times during filming.
The woman in the shop where Jimmy takes the beer is Boti Bliss, the director's wife.
The bathtub that Jimmy lies in was filled with Joy Soap (a strong dish-washing detergent), and while Jake Gyllenhaal closed his eyes (that had contacts in) while submerging himself under the surface, "the stinging of concentrated soap on [his] nose hairs" caused great discomfort in each of the 6 takes that were shot.
John Carroll Lynch insisted on getting an expensive hairpiece made for him to wear and Blair Hayes was glad about Lynch's insistence, as it added a lot to the character.
John Carroll Lynch's father role was originally meant to have no dialogue, and was even considered to be taken out of the story, but due to so many good actors coming in to audition for the role, and Lynch's many meaningful additions to the story, the role was kept in.
Even though many stunt men were around during the mud wrestling scene, Jake Gyllenhaal was in the bubble all the time.
Jake Gyllenhaal later said in interviews that the original screenplay was a dark comedy with very odd undertones, actually quite similar to Donnie Darko (2001) in style. Studio interference turned the final film into a typical teen comedy.
In the DVD commentary, director Blair Hayes and Jake Gyllenhaal have an argument around the time when Jimmy gets the scooter in Las Vegas, and the sound of (probably fake) fighting can be heard. Later in the commentary, Gyllenhaal leaves briefly and receives high praise from Hayes, relating him to Buster Keaton.
Mark's criticism of Land of the Lost (1974) for its fake effects and Chloe's response summarises the film's own motives for its effects.
The bubble suit was specifically designed to make Jake Gyllenhaal continually fall over. The tumbles he takes are not scripted.
Jake Gyllenhaal and John Carrol Lynch first collaboration. They would later work together on David Fincher's Zodiac (2007)
Early promotional material credited Michael Kalesniko as one of the writers.
Jimmy and Chloe's favorite show is Land of the Lost (1974).
Fabio once asked to borrow a pen from director Blair Hayes at a sporting event, so women could write their phones numbers down for him.
Inspired by the 1976 TV movie The Boy in the Plastic Bubble (1976).
Seven years later, the writers Cinco Paul and Ken Daurio adapted this into a musical.
Despite the fact that this was filmed in Super 35, "Filmed in Panavision" is listed in the end credits.
