Bunk Bed Boys (TV)

Bunk Bed Boys

(Synopsis & Reviews)

Synopsis:

Bunk Bed Boys is the story of two Manchester brothers, Phil (Brian Dick) and Jim (Rob Rouse), who are well into their twenties and still living at home with Mum. They share the same bedroom and Mum (Geraldine McNulty) treats them as if they were 12, cooking and cleaning for them and lending money at will.

Phil’s latest fad is animal rights. However, his interest in this field mainly stems from his wish to impress Helen (Sally Hawkins), a staunch activist. Jim is the more laid back of the two and has a job at the local zoo. Jim’s job and Phil’s new found beliefs do not live well together and lead to disastrous and hilarious consequences.

Bunk Bed Boys is the winning entry from the BBC Three/BBC Talent New Sitcom Writers Awards Scheme 2002.

Our Reviews:

It’s basically a satirical look at animal rights activism which at times, goes a little over the edge, bringing us back to the question – who’s exactly at the top of the food chain here – animals or humans? Bunk Bed Boys shows us animal rights activism that goes haywire, horribly, horribly wrong, to say the least! Sally Hawkins is Helen, the animal rights activist..or rather an extremist, who will stop at nothing to free any animal including those that are living in the zoo! This sure doesn’t sit well with Phil, who’s obviously infatuated with Helen, but in order to please her, he agrees to steal his brother, Jim’s key card to access the animals’ cages in the zoo so as to let them out during the night! Sally is hilarious when she reacts with such disgust when she sees people feeding the birds in the park. Her facial expression of disgust is so extreme that it’s comical and you can’t help but laugh!

The funniest scene is when Helen is sitting in the kitchen with Phil in his mother’s home, when she suddenly lets out a terrified scream and literally bounces off her chair to the other side of the kitchen table at the sight of a huge gun barrel pointing towards her direction!! We then realize that the mom has brought in all the guns and ammunition in the world to the table to show Helen & Phil! Yes, when Mother says “You need protection” to the kids, she means deadly weapons, which she nonchalantly mentions that she bought from the Army sale!! Even more hilarious is when she hands a metal knuckle bracelet to Helen with such pride and joy that Helen who, by now, looks as white as a ghost, just stares at the weapon in horror, while muttering a shaky “thank you” and proceeds to put it on with her trembling hands while Phil’s mom watches on! So, it’s yet another satirical point Bunk Bed Boys tries to make, this time, about guns! Absolutely hilarious and downright bold! First, animal rights and now guns! Bravo!! In short, Bunk Bed Boys shows some funny moments and Sally Hawkins proves she’s not only a remarkable dramatic actor but makes a very funny and corky comic actor, too!    ~ Coggy

Screenshots:

01 - Sally's First Appearance - Walking in the Park

02 - On the Park Bench - So you've got the money then?

03 - A Meeting with the Sponsor - You could have been from some religious cult

04 - Girlfriend? - There is nothing between us

05 - 'Gunbarrelled'? - She usually makes it quite clear when she doesn't like someone

06 - Leap of Faith - Mum, what are you doing?

07 - Valen'th'ia - You never gave a toss about this stuff until you met Helen

08 - Dangerous Animals - They won't bite us, they don't bite your brother

09 - Men of Action - We need men of action in this movement

10 - Get the Card - Do you always do what other people tell you to do?

11 - A Penguin's Gratitude - You deserve a very special reward for that

12 - Look, it's Helen! - You're disgusting!