The sorority in The House Bunny bears the initials ZAZ, after the trio (David Zucker, Jim Abrahams, and Jerry Zucker) that produced Airplane! and The Naked Gun. This is probably the subtlest joke in a broad high concept comedy written — or, more precisely, recycled — by the pair responsible for Legally Blonde. At times, The House Bunny feels like a shot for shot remake of that Reese Witherspoon vehicle, with Anna Faris put through a similar campus-comedy gauntlet as an exiled Playboy Bunny trying to reinvent herself as a sorority housemother.

It’s an ideal role for Faris, who has always managed to be sexy and funny at the same time (often in spite of unflattering roles). She’s also cornered the market on deadpan obliviousness: at her best, she gives the impression of being surprised by her own non-sequiturs (which is why she was perfect as a pothead in the underrated Smiley Face).  Her sweetly frazzled presence goes a long way towards making The House Bunny halfway tolerable despite its hack-tastic construction, revolting plot mechanics (will the geeky gaggle that adopts our heroine get enough pledges to avoid losing their house?) and dubious messaging (the Playboy Mansion is a nurturing environment; nice clothes will make you happy).

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