“Bug” (Lionsgate)
What Was Ashley Judd Thinking
“Bug” is a bizarre movie about two loonies who think they are being eaten up by small bugs called “aphids.” That is the entire plot of the film and if you aren’t bug-eyed by the time you get through watching it then you are a better man than I am, Gunga Din. The movie is annoying, depressing and worst of all boring. What was Ashley Judd thinking when she signed on to act in this monstrosity!
Judd plays Agnes, one of life’s losers. She lives in a motel situated on the edge of what looks to be a desert. She supports herself by waitressing at a lesbian bar. Agnes is not your most stable of characters. She has an ex-con for an ex-husband (Harry Connick, Jr.) and her best friend sets her up with Mr. Bizarro himself, Peter Evans (Michael Shannon).
Peter is a man who has strong psychological problems – the bugs. He is so convinced bugs are swimming around inside him that he manages to convince poor needy Agnes of this fact. They cover the motel room with aluminum foil to keep the signals from aliens or the government out. Then they discuss what the bugs are going to do, or worse yet what they can do for the bugs.
Shannon created the role of Peter in the Broadway play and he is able to bring the mania to the role without seeming to be overacting. He just seems crazy. Judd on the other hand seems to be acting with every word that comes out of her mouth. And when she goes really bonkers she chews up the scenery to show what a strong actress she can be. Sorry, Ashley, no Oscar here.
When Connick shows up acting somewhat sane you want to hold him in the picture as long as you can. He becomes heroic just by not being insane. Not a high recommendation but a recommendation just the same.
The movie is rated R for profanity, violence and nudity.
William “The Exorcist” Friedkin directed this mess of a movie. You would think a director of his stature could bring some insight to the story and make it have a point or moral. If there is a message to this movie it is stock up on “Raid.”
This is a movie that is grungy looking, horribly overacted, and messed up with a story line that can’t be comprehended except for its idiocy. Beware of “Bug”; stay away from “Bug” even if you are the most devoted Ashley Judd fan on the planet. Surely she will come to her senses and make a watchable movie the next time out.
I scored “Bug” a de-loused 2 out of 10.
