The House Bunny

Anna Faris capitalises on her vacant-blonde routine in this sunny, silly comedy. She’s Shelley, a dim-witted, relentlessly cheerful Playboy Bunny who’s been kicked out of the mansion and on to the streets. Implausibility reigns supreme as she’s hired as a house mother for an ailing college sorority group full of misfits begging for makeovers. But it’s hard not to be won over by the script’s cheery humour that affectionately mocks Shelley while rooting for her all the way. ‘You’re so vapid,’ someone sneers at her. ‘Thanks very much!’ Shelley coos in genuine delight.

Faris nails moments like this with charm, creating catchphrases out of lines a lesser actress might toss away. It’s a shame the supports aren’t stronger – not to mention the half-hearted message that tries to meet brainboxes and bimbos somewhere in the middle. This aims for ‘Legally Blonde’/‘Mean Girls’ status, but ends up being a throwaway, if entertaining, plea for casting directors to start taking Faris more seriously.