Despite finding the plot completely idiotic on paper, there was no doubt about 'Bunny O'Hare' regardless. Due to my appreciation of comedy, aiming to appreciate all types (though preferring some to others) and of the cast. Not that difficult to go wrong with the brilliant Bette Davis and Ernest Borgine has also shown greatness a number of times. Loved Jack Cassidy in his 'Columbo' appearances and still hold 'The Addams Family' series with fondness (talking about John Astin).
'Bunny O Hare' does absolutely none of them justice and was to me and many others a very bad film regardless of who was in it. It may not be Davis' (who was in her twilight years at this point) very worst film or performance, 'Wicked Stepmother' will always hold that dubious distinction on both counts, but it is one of them. Not many Davis fans will be particularly proud of this as an overall film and most likely will want to watch some of her best work after to wash the bad taste looming inside the mouth. Borgnine is the least bad out of everyone here but even he has done better, there are far better representations of Astin and this is career-worst work for Cassidy.
The best and most professional performance in 'Bunny O Hare' comes from Borgnine. The only person who seems to be trying without overdoing it and with the only character that doesn't bore or annoy, you'd think that it would be Davis in both cases but not so to my very own surprise.
Some of the music is not too bad either, Bunny's open you up like a can of tomato soup is a fleeting smile-worthy moment and Cassidy does have one mildly amusing line starting with "all they want to do is sit around...".
However, Davis' heart does not seem to be in it and she is practically sleepwalking through her role here, something that she very rarely did. She has very little chemistry with Borgnine, a shame because they worked previously in 'A Catered Affair' (a vastly superior film in every way) and had plenty of that then. Astin has to work with a character that's both dull and implausible and ends up being annoying and Cassidy is practically a cartoon in a distastefully stereotypical type of role that makes the character looks like an idiot and a sleaze. The direction has very little energy or wit.
It is almost non-existent, well it is very slight at the very least, on the story front and what there is is even more idiotic than it seemed from reading the plot line. The script is just not funny and is far too over-worked, to the point it is too broad or strained. Anybody looking for any sophistication, wit or subtlety will be disappointed and best looking elsewhere. 'Bunny O Hare' even looks cheap and like it was made in a hurry in little time on little budget, that may not have been the case in real life but it came over that way here.
Overall, very bad. 3/10
'Bunny O Hare' does absolutely none of them justice and was to me and many others a very bad film regardless of who was in it. It may not be Davis' (who was in her twilight years at this point) very worst film or performance, 'Wicked Stepmother' will always hold that dubious distinction on both counts, but it is one of them. Not many Davis fans will be particularly proud of this as an overall film and most likely will want to watch some of her best work after to wash the bad taste looming inside the mouth. Borgnine is the least bad out of everyone here but even he has done better, there are far better representations of Astin and this is career-worst work for Cassidy.
The best and most professional performance in 'Bunny O Hare' comes from Borgnine. The only person who seems to be trying without overdoing it and with the only character that doesn't bore or annoy, you'd think that it would be Davis in both cases but not so to my very own surprise.
Some of the music is not too bad either, Bunny's open you up like a can of tomato soup is a fleeting smile-worthy moment and Cassidy does have one mildly amusing line starting with "all they want to do is sit around...".
However, Davis' heart does not seem to be in it and she is practically sleepwalking through her role here, something that she very rarely did. She has very little chemistry with Borgnine, a shame because they worked previously in 'A Catered Affair' (a vastly superior film in every way) and had plenty of that then. Astin has to work with a character that's both dull and implausible and ends up being annoying and Cassidy is practically a cartoon in a distastefully stereotypical type of role that makes the character looks like an idiot and a sleaze. The direction has very little energy or wit.
It is almost non-existent, well it is very slight at the very least, on the story front and what there is is even more idiotic than it seemed from reading the plot line. The script is just not funny and is far too over-worked, to the point it is too broad or strained. Anybody looking for any sophistication, wit or subtlety will be disappointed and best looking elsewhere. 'Bunny O Hare' even looks cheap and like it was made in a hurry in little time on little budget, that may not have been the case in real life but it came over that way here.
Overall, very bad. 3/10