Funny, magical ‘Dust Bunny’ guaranteed to floor you
Forget all those over-hyped Oscar contenders currently flooding the theaters and get thyself to the hilarious “Dust Bunny.” This never-ending charmer had me at hello and only drew me in deeper once I spotted the marvelous Mads Mikkelsen as a hitman offering his services to a frightened 8-year-old girl convinced that an underbed dust bunny devoured her parents.
Even better, the precocious child, Aurora, is brought adorably to life by the ideally cast Sophie Sloan, a young actress capable of not only melting the heart of Mikkelsen’s nameless tough-guy assassin, but yours as well. Both play off each other so well that you fully buy into the conceit that Aurora finds a kindred soul when she, using cash pinched from a church collection plate, hires the mysterious man down the hall to slay the murderous lint ball.
Silly, yes. Well, at least at first, before you are given reason to believe Aurora’s imagination isn’t running so wild. Her newest foster parents really have vanished, their bedroom in shambles. Almost instantly, the hitman deduces that the person, or persons, responsible for the disappearances of Mom and Dad were in fact targeting him, but entered the apartment at the opposite end of the hall from his, 5B. He also suspects they will likely be back to correct their mistake by disposing of him and his latest client.
If the scenario reminds you a bit of Natalie Portman’s acting debut, opposite Jean Reno, in Luc Besson’s “Leon: The Professional,” you are right on the money. Only this one is considerably more lighthearted and whimsical because the sweetness writer-director Bryan Fuller instills renders it a fairy tale more than a straight-up action picture. Not that there aren’t numerous ninja-like showdowns in which guns, knives and fisticuffs are employed, Jackie Chan style, to sufficiently temper the inherent sentimentality on display.
It’s “John Wick” meets “Annie,” sans the musical numbers. And it’s alluring thanks to its two stars and the magnetic appeal they generate through exchanging snappy, quip-filled dialogue. The evolution of their relationship is beyond endearing, as Aurora effortlessly stirs the long-dormant empathy within a man who’d forgotten that at his core he’s an old softie. At first, you legitimately fear for Sophie, but near the end, you’re convinced she’s found the perfect candidate to become her fourth dad.
Yes, being a parent to Sophie is very much the same as being the drummer for Spinal Tap. As such, the odds of Mikkelsen’s character surviving to the end credits are 50-50 at best. Not only is he being pursued by a multitude of executioners headed by David Dastmalchian’s enigmatic Mr. Inconsiquential, but he’s under increasing pressure by his handler, Laverne (Sigourney Weaver), to off the little girl because she knows too much about their operation. And what’s with that lady from child services, Brenda (Sheila Atim), packing heat?
Fuller cleverly weaves all these strands into a cohesive whole that pays off biggly in a wild, albeit bloody, throwdown in which killers, both real and imagined, clash in a chaotic, supernatural free-for-all. But don’t let the violence and the film’s ridiculous R rating deter you from bringing the kids, age 10 and up. This is a very wondrous, life-affirming tale, not far removed from the Spielberg canon of the early 1980s. In fact, Fuller hatched the framework for “Dusty Bunny” while serving as an executive producer on Spielberg’s revamped “Amazing Stories” in 2016. Even then, he knew he wanted his “Hannibal” star, Mads Mikkelsen, to play the lead. And Mikkelsen wisely jumped at the chance, because it plays right into his capabilities to be both an intimidating tough guy and a droll, deadpan comedian.
And he does it while unselfishly allowing the movie to be swept out from under him by Sloan, an 8-year-old going on 80. She provides the flick’s spunky heartbeat, smart as a whip and utterly fearless, as evidenced when circumstances require Aurora to take cover under a rat-infested Dumpster. It’s a terrific scene, underscoring the film’s astute observations on how a child can be irrationally frightened by an imaginary dust bunny yet unfazed by actual threats to their safety. It’s just as insightful in its examination of adults who don’t take kids seriously enough. A painful lesson the hitman in 5B is about to learn.
Kudos, too, to all the folks responsible for the movie’s high production values. It looks three times more expensive than its middling budget would indicate, thanks mainly to the terrific set decorations (love the rabbit motif) and the swirling, swooping cinematography by Nicole Hirsch Whitaker, whose dizzying camera movements fortify the flick’s quirky air. Equally solid are the impressive special effects, particularly when Aurora imagines the “monster” bursting through her bedroom floor, snatching its prey before returning to whence it came. It’s not only convincing, it’s unsettling. And the costumes are practically characters unto themselves, whether it’s Mikkelsen’s garish, co-ord tracksuits, or the monochromatic wear worn by Dastmalchian (“Late Night with the Devil”).
You also detect a strong Wes Anderson vibe through reams of ironic dialogue delivered in casual monotones, laced with elements of Fuller’s fantastical TV series “Pushing Daisies,” in which a pie-maker could bring the dead back to life. And I can’t think of a more apt description for “Dusty Bunny,” an Amblinesque creation that lovingly pays homage to the they-don’t-make-them-like-they-used-to family entertainments of yore, like “E.T.: The Extra Terrestrial,” “Gremlins,” and “Poltergeist.” It more than earns its place beside them. So, as I suggest, skip the “Wickeds” and “Zootopias” and hop on over to “Dusty Bunny,” and watch it entertainingly take a Swiffer to them all.
Movie review
Dust Bunny
Rated: R for some violence
Cast: Mads Mikkelsen, Sophie Sloan, Sigourney Weaver, Sheila Atim and David Dastmalchian
Director: Bryan Fuller
Writer: Bryan Fuller
Runtime: 106 minutes
Where: Currently in theaters (limited)
Grade: B+
