Rabbit Fever: A British 2006 Mockumentary

Rabbit Fever (2006)
** Reviewed by Stella Papamichael / http://www.bbc.co.uk/
Updated 17 September 2006

A trend in British mockumentary continues with Rabbit Fever by first-time filmmaker Ian Denyer. Unfortunately, where recent attempts like Confetti and Festival manage to dredge a few laughs from a dustbin of half-baked ideas, this meditation on female masturbation scrapes the bottom of the can and fails to produce even one remotely funny moment. Close-ups of candy-coloured dildos between shots of women running to the loo sum up the breadth of writer Stephen Raphael's imagination. His efforts are embarrassingly inadequate.

Emma Buckley is among a group of "Rabbit addicts" enrolled in a recovery programme, but the real tragedy for these women is that they're upstaged by vibrating plastic. Raphael's script reduces them to props in a series of unfunny incidents building to the punchline that women "can't get enough". He throws in a few threads of relationship drama to dress up the skeletal frame, but it all feels so perfunctory - like rushing the foreplay to get to the pay-off.

"ABSOLUTELY NO COMEDIC UPSHOT"

Between the achingly obvious skits depicting late-night battery shopping etc the film is mostly talking heads. Professors and politicians debate the spread of "Rabbit Fever" with absolutely no comedic upshot. Tom Conti, feminist Germaine Greer and Virgin honcho Richard Branson are among a randomly cobbled collection of speakers who try very hard to be understatedly funny and come across as stiff as the titular joystick. And just when you thought it couldn't get more depressing, there's the spectacle of a 60-plus Stefanie Powers with her legs splayed. Evidently the pursuit of pleasure often results in toe-curling pain.

Rabbit Fever is released in UK cinemas on Friday 22nd September 2006.

Rabbit Fever

********/ 10 Philip French / Sun 24 Sep 2006 ? www.theguardian.com/

(90 mins, 18)
Directed by Ian Denyer; starring Lisa Barbuscia, Julian Rhind-Tutt, Tara Summers

Directed by Ian Denyer from a script by Stephen Raphael, Rabbit Fever is a mirthless, pointless mockumentary about vibrators and women who become addicted to their use. Is it satirising frank Channel 4 documentaries, the cult of the female orgasm, the obsession with recreational sex, the overly frank way people now discuss intimate matters?

It fails in every respect, and no doubt the well known people who appear in it as themselves or variations of themselves will come to regret it and will perhaps get together as a support group. They include Germaine Greer, William Boyd, Danny Baker, Emily Mortimer, George Walden, Toby Young, Frederic Raphael and the chairman of the Film Section of the Critics' Circle.

A British film that finally lives up to its hype

20 September 2006 | by mehbarton /  www.imdb.com
It's very rare that a British film lives up to its billing or promise. How many times have we felt betrayed by the monikers "Best British Film of the Year" or "Funniest British Film of 2006". The answer? Countless times. It's more often than not a deflating experience watching British films, especially comedies. Well, feel betrayed no longer. It's time to reflate yourselves because finally we have a film that delivers what it says on the packet. This is a wonderfully conceived low-budget British comedy that takes a simple premise - are vibrators destructive to society? - and runs with it in a delightfully silly mockumentary style. Throw into the mixer the inventive and hilarious use of cameos from the likes of Tom Conti, Stephanie Powers, Tom Hollander, Germaine Greer, Richard Branson & William Boyd (to name but a few)- some "playing" themselves, others playing parts in the film - and you have a fresh, vibrant, colourful, unconventional & fast-paced film that leaves you laughing throughout and feeling good at the end. Isn't that what British comedies are supposed to be about?

Rabit Fever

Posted: Tuesday September 19 2006 / By: Anna Smith / www.timeout.com/

This far-fetched British mockumentary strikes an uneasy balance between reality and fantasy as it follows a group of women who have become addicted to the ‘rabbit’ vibrator. While a real-life best-seller, the female-friendly sex toy is hardly believable as the cause of widespread international panic, but in ‘Rabbit Fever’ it causes marriages to break up, airlines to introduce bans and campaigners to protest for ‘rabbit’ breaks at work. It sounds like an unusually bad ‘Brass Eye’ sketch, but it’s far worse than that: a collection of repetitive am-dram talking heads, weak jokes and central characters who are hard to distinguish from one another. Julian Rhind-Tutt and Tara Summers offer occasional respite as a rabbit-plagued couple whose denial is revealed with relative subtlety: elsewhere the humour is unsophisticated and unfunny. The only people wincing more than the audience are likely to be participants such as Germaine Greer, who will surely see the finished product as an utterly wasted opportunity to explore female sexual liberation through humour.

A smutty one-joke movie, and even the one joke isn’t funny.

* / 10 Reviewed by Chris Tookey / www.movie-film-review.com/

Rabbit Fever is, by virtue of its inept writing and lousy direction, one of the worst films ever made. It is based on a single, smutty idea: that a vibrating female sex-aid called a rabbit (which, I gather, really exists) is taking over the world, replacing men in women’s beds and becoming an addiction more dangerous than crack cocaine.

The film takes the form of a mock-documentary, with “experts” - among them, inexplicably, William Boyd and Germaine Greer – pontificating in a would-be humorous fashion about the phenomenon. Interspersed with the talking heads are “real-life” case studies, broadly performed as though they are intended to be comic by actors whose identity I shall not reveal for the sake of their loved ones.

The man who penned this sniggering smut is Stephen Raphael, who has a distinguished writer as his father (Frederic Raphael, who briefly appears as a Hollywood film producer). Unfortunately, Raphael Junior appears not to have inherited a single creative gene. He is aged 39. Let us hope and pray he finds some alternative source of employment.

The clod-hopping, ham-fisted direction is by one Ian Denyer, whose previous work for television includes Inside The Mind of Paul Gascoigne, so he is obviously up for a challenge. Sadly, this one is completely beyond him.

Normally, I would dismiss dross of this utter uselessness in a single paragraph, or ignore it out of kindness. However, it’s been given rave reviews on its poster by Henry Fitzherbert of the Sunday Express as “**** Uproarious fun”, and Toby Young (pictured) in The Tatler as “British comedy of the year”. So be warned that both Fitzherbert and Young appear in the movie. Their “opinions” are not to be trusted.

Of the few critics who attended the press screening, more than a quarter walked out within the first half-hour. Those of us who remained emerged shaking our heads and asking each other how on earth this shambles ever got made. It is even harder to know who would possibly release it, except as a bet.

More Background on RabbitFeverTheMovie.com

RabbitFeverTheMovie.com served as the official website for the 2006 British mockumentary film Rabbit Fever. This article provides a thorough, well-sourced overview of the website and the film it represents, including details on ownership, popularity, location, awards, goals, reviews, history, press coverage, audience, cultural and social significance, and other specifics. All information is drawn from reputable external sources and not from the website itself.

Ownership and Creation

RabbitFeverTheMovie.com was established as the official online platform for Rabbit Fever, a British mockumentary film directed by Ian Denyer and written by Stephen Raphael. The film was produced by a British team, with Denyer known for his work in television documentaries and Raphael being the son of the acclaimed writer Frederic Raphael. The website was managed by the film’s production team and served as the primary digital hub for news, background material, and promotional content for audiences and the media.

The Film: Background and Synopsis

Rabbit Fever is a 2006 British mockumentary that satirizes the cultural phenomenon surrounding the "Rabbit" vibrator, a popular sex toy. The film follows a group of women who have become "addicted" to the Rabbit, exploring the supposed social consequences of its widespread popularity. The mockumentary format parodies both the conventions of serious documentaries and the sensationalism often found in media coverage of sexual topics.

The plot centers on a fictional "epidemic" of Rabbit addiction, with the narrative following several women through a recovery program. The film features talking-head interviews with celebrities, academics, and public figures, and intersperses comedic skits, faux interviews, and satirical commentary to lampoon both the subject matter and the documentary genre itself.

Cast, Crew, and Production Details

• Director: Ian Denyer

• Screenwriter: Stephen Raphael

• Cast: Lisa Barbusica, Julian Rhind-Tutt, Tara Summers, Flora Montgomery, Emma Buckley

• Cameos and Appearances: The film features a range of notable personalities, including Germaine Greer, Richard Branson, Tom Conti, William Boyd, Danny Baker, Emily Mortimer, George Walden, Toby Young, and Frederic Raphael, many of whom appear as themselves or as exaggerated versions of themselves.

Popularity and Reception

Rabbit Fever received a mixed to negative critical reception upon its release in the UK. The film was released in cinemas on September 22, 2006, and quickly became a topic of discussion due to its provocative subject matter and satirical approach.

Critical Reviews

• BBC Review: Stella Papamichael described the film as a "meditation on female masturbation" that "fails to produce even one remotely funny moment," criticizing the script for reducing women to "props in a series of unfunny incidents" and finding the talking-head segments lacking comedic value.

• The Guardian: Philip French called it a "mirthless, pointless mockumentary about vibrators and women who become addicted to their use," questioning whether the film was satirizing documentaries, sexual liberation, or the frankness of modern society. He concluded that the film failed in every respect and predicted that the well-known people who appeared in it might regret their participation.

• Time Out: Anna Smith found the film’s premise far-fetched and its humor unsophisticated, likening it to a bad "Brass Eye" sketch. She noted that the central characters were hard to distinguish and that the humor was repetitive and uninspired.

• Movie Film Review: Chris Tookey labeled the film "one of the worst films ever made," criticizing its "inept writing and lousy direction." He described it as a "smutty one-joke movie" and questioned the judgment of those who gave it positive blurbs on its poster, noting that many critics walked out of the press screening within the first half-hour.

• IMDb User Review: Some user reviews on IMDb were more positive, calling it a "wonderfully conceived low-budget British comedy" and praising its inventive use of cameos and its fast-paced, unconventional style.

Awards and Recognition

There is no record of Rabbit Fever winning major film awards. Its notoriety stems more from its controversial subject matter and the inclusion of high-profile cameos than from critical acclaim or accolades.

Location and Setting

The film is set in the United Kingdom, with its narrative and production rooted in British culture. The website was managed and operated from the UK, serving as the film’s official digital home.

Goals and Purpose

The primary goal of RabbitFeverTheMovie.com was to promote the film, provide information about its cast and crew, and serve as a resource for press and audiences interested in the movie’s themes and production. The site offered background material, press kits, and updates about screenings and media appearances.

Menus and Website Features

While the specific menu structure of RabbitFeverTheMovie.com is not detailed in external reviews, typical features of official film websites at the time included:

• About the Film: Background, synopsis, and production notes

• Cast and Crew: Biographies and filmographies

• Media Gallery: Stills, trailers, and behind-the-scenes photos

• Press: Reviews, press releases, and media coverage

• Screenings: Information on cinema releases and festival showings

• Contact: For press and fan inquiries

History and Development

Rabbit Fever was conceived and developed in the mid-2000s, at a time when British mockumentaries were gaining popularity. The film’s satirical approach and use of real public figures in cameo roles were intended to blur the line between fiction and reality, a hallmark of the genre. The website was launched to coincide with the film’s theatrical release in September 2006 and was used to coordinate press coverage and audience engagement.

Press and Media Coverage

The film and its website received coverage from major UK media outlets, including the BBC, The Guardian, and Time Out. Much of the coverage focused on the film’s controversial premise and the inclusion of well-known personalities. The critical consensus was largely negative, with reviewers questioning the film’s comedic value and execution.

Audience

The intended audience for Rabbit Fever included fans of British comedy, mockumentary enthusiasts, and viewers interested in satirical takes on contemporary social issues. The inclusion of celebrities and public figures was designed to attract a broader audience, but the film’s explicit subject matter and mixed reviews limited its mainstream appeal.

Known For

Rabbit Fever is primarily known for its satirical examination of the "Rabbit" vibrator craze and its mockumentary style. It is also notable for its ensemble of celebrity cameos and its attempt to parody both the documentary format and contemporary discussions of female sexuality.

Cultural and Social Significance

While the film did not achieve significant critical or commercial success, it remains a cultural artifact of mid-2000s British cinema, reflecting both the popularity of mockumentaries and the increasing openness of public discourse around sexuality. The film’s premise—treating vibrator use as a social epidemic—was intended as a commentary on media sensationalism and societal attitudes toward female pleasure, though critics largely found the execution lacking.

Details, Insights, and Specifics

• The film’s structure alternates between faux-documentary interviews, comedic skits, and fictional case studies.

• Real-life figures such as Germaine Greer and Richard Branson appear, sometimes as themselves and sometimes in exaggerated roles, contributing to the film’s satirical tone.

• The website functioned as a central hub for information, press materials, and updates, typical of independent film promotion in the mid-2000s.

• Despite the negative reviews, some viewers appreciated the film’s irreverent humor and unconventional style, highlighting the diversity of audience responses.

Examples and Notable Moments

• The film’s talking-head segments feature academics and celebrities discussing the fictional "Rabbit epidemic," parodying the earnestness of real documentaries.

• Comedic skits depict exaggerated scenarios, such as women attending "Rabbit addiction" recovery programs and public protests for "Rabbit breaks" at work.

• The inclusion of Stefanie Powers in a controversial scene was singled out by critics as emblematic of the film’s provocative and sometimes awkward approach.

RabbitFeverTheMovie.com played a key role in promoting Rabbit Fever, a film that sought to satirize both contemporary sexual culture and the documentary genre. While the film was met with largely negative reviews and failed to achieve major recognition, its website stands as a testament to the strategies used by independent filmmakers in the digital age to reach audiences and generate discussion. The film’s legacy lies in its bold premise, its use of celebrity cameos, and its place within the broader context of British comedy mockumentaries.