At the Sundance Film Festival, filmmakers often push the boundaries of comedy, offering unconventional and offbeat humor that stands apart from the typical fare. This tradition has led to the creation of modern comedy classics such as Clerks, Four Weddings and a Funeral, and Napoleon Dynamite. However, it also brings forth ambitious films that miss the mark. In 2025, Bubble & Squeak by writer-director Evan Twohy joins this category, a comedy that centers around one unexpected subject: cabbages.
A Ridiculous Premise with Absurd Comedy
Bubble & Squeak follows newlywed couple Declan (Himesh Patel) and Delores (Sarah Goldberg), who decide to spend their honeymoon in an unnamed country known for its hatred of cabbages. The bizarre premise begins when the couple is detained at customs, where a customs agent named Bkofl (Steven Yeun) informs them that they are suspected of smuggling cabbages into the country. The film plays with the idea that this country, having survived a war on a diet of nothing but cabbages, now has an intense aversion to them. Smuggling cabbages is a crime punishable by death or brutal beatings.
The humor peaks in the opening scene when Delores is caught with cabbages stuffed in her pants, and the couple attempts a frantic escape. As they flee, they encounter Shazbor (Matt Berry), a tracker with a rusty bat, and other quirky characters, including Norman (Dave Franco), a cabbage smuggler dressed in a bear suit.
The Film Struggles to Deliver its Absurdity Effectively
While Bubble & Squeak occasionally elicits laughs through its ridiculous concept, the film’s reliance on a single joke—cabbages—grows repetitive. The absurdity of the situation, while initially amusing, becomes tiresome as the film drags on. The world created by Twohy, filled with exaggerated humor, ultimately leaves the characters feeling one-dimensional. Declan and Delores lack depth, and their dialogue comes off as stiff and forced, making it difficult to care about their journey.
Despite moments of absurdity, the film falters when it tries to transition into an emotional conclusion. The characters are presented more like cartoons than real people, and their eventual emotional resolution feels unearned. The final moments offer some reflection, but by then, the focus on cabbage jokes has already overstayed its welcome.
A Few Bright Spots in the Cast
The cast does its best with the odd concept, especially Patel and Goldberg, who are tasked with delivering lines in a highly specific and unnatural style. The film’s highlight comes in the form of Dave Franco, whose energetic portrayal of Norman, the bear-wearing cabbage smuggler, shakes up the story and introduces a more grounded dynamic between Declan and Delores. His presence brings a much-needed spark halfway through the film, offering a shift toward something more personal amidst the chaos.
Although Bubble & Squeak has its moments of humor, particularly in the performances of Franco and the brief appearances by Yeun and Berry, the film ultimately struggles to balance its absurdity with a meaningful narrative. Comedy can thrive on the bizarre, but it needs to be rooted in something more relatable to be truly effective.
Conclusion: A Missed Opportunity
Bubble & Squeak brings an innovative concept to the table but fails to develop its characters in a way that makes the audience care about them. The film’s reliance on a single, repetitive joke about cabbages prevents it from fully realizing its potential. While the film has some fun moments, it ultimately leans too heavily into the ridiculous, leaving the human story it tries to tell feeling disconnected. At the 2025 Sundance Film Festival, Bubble & Squeak may have caught attention for its outlandish premise, but it struggles to deliver a comedy that lasts beyond its absurdity.
Bubble & Squeak premiered at the 2025 Sundance Film Festival.
