Drunk Bus (2021)
84%RT Audience Score: 69%
Awards & Nominations: 2 wins & 2 nominations
Fueled by a blend of rowdy comedy and poignant drama, Drunk Bus takes audiences on an uncommonly rewarding coming-of-age journey.
Drunk Bus is like a wild ride on a party bus, but with a heartwarming twist. The mix of drama and comedy may be a bit shaky, but the central relationship between a lovelorn burnout and the free-spirited Pineapple keeps the movie’s heart beating. It’s a coming-of-age story about letting go of toxic relationships and embracing new people in your life, all set on a college campus bus that keeps the wheels going round and round. Overall, Drunk Bus is a fun and touching film that’s well worth flagging down, even if you’re not drunk.
Production Company(ies)
C J Entertainment, Barunson E& A
Distributor
FilmRise
Release Type
Theatrical, Theatrical (Limited)
Filming Location(s)
MPAA / Certificate
Year of Release
2021
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Color:Color
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Sound mix:Dolby
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Aspect ratio:2.35 : 1
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Runtime:1h 20m
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Language(s):
-
Country of origin:United States
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Release date:Release Date (Theaters): May 21, 2021 Limited
Release Date (Streaming): May 21, 2021
Genre(s)
Comedy/Drama
Keyword(s)
starring Charlie Tahan, Kara Hayward, Pineapple Tangaroa, Zach Cherry, Sarah Mezzanotte, Tonatiuh Elizarraraz, directed by John Carlucci, Brandon LaGanke, written by Chris Molinaro, Comedy, Drama, box office performance, budget, reviewed by Phuong Le, Monica Castillo, Richard Whittaker, Randy Myers, Steve Morrissey, Witney Seibold, Aine O’Connor, Paul Salfen, Dennis Harvey, Hugues Porquier, Patrick McDonald, produced by Eric Hollenbeck, Steven Ilous, Grant Fitch, MPAA rating, coming-of-age journey, security guard, tattooed face, punk rock Samoan, toxic relationships, depression, college campus bus, rowdy comedy, poignant drama, late bloomer, subplots, friendly overall tenor, original, interesting, sweet, touching, unexpected heart, 80s wild comedy feel, symbolism, wheels going round and round
Worldwide gross: NA
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): NA
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): NA
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): NA
US/Canada gross: NA
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): NA
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): NA
US/Canada opening weekend:
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): NA
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): NA
Budget and Earnings Details
Production budget (est.): NA
Production budget (inflation-adjusted): NA
Production budget ranking: NA
Marketing and distribution budget (inflation-adjusted est.): NA
Box office net earnings to date (inflation-adjusted est.): NA
ROI to date (est.): NA
ROI ranking: NA
Kara Hayward – Kat
Pineapple Tangaroa – Pineapple
Zach Cherry – Josh
Sarah Mezzanotte – Amy
Tonatiuh Elizarraraz – Justin
Director(s)
John Carlucci, Brandon LaGanke
Writer(s)
Chris Molinaro
Producer(s)
Eric Hollenbeck, Steven Ilous, Grant Fitch
Film Festivals
South by Southwest
Awards & Nominations
2 wins & 2 nominations
Academy Awards
All Critics (43) | Top Critics (4) | Fresh (42) | Rotten (1)
While the mix of drama and comedy is shaky, Drunk Bus is still a rewarding watch.
May 25, 2021 | Rating: 3/5
Phuong Le
Guardian
TOP CRITIC
A sweet, late bloomer coming-of-age comedy about learning to let go of toxic relationships and embracing new people in your life.
May 21, 2021 | Rating: 3/4
Monica Castillo
RogerEbert.com
TOP CRITIC
It’s with a surprising low-key charm, with Pineapple bringing his gutterpunk Yoda vibe into Michael’s carefully-constructed world of misery, and both getting a little learning from the experience.
May 20, 2021 | Rating: 3/5
Richard Whittaker
Austin Chronicle
TOP CRITIC
“Drunk Bus” is a rowdy sweetheart, directed with pluck by Brandon LaGanke and John Carlucci and written with comedic punch by screenwriter Chris Molinaro.
March 26, 2021 | Rating: 3.5/4
Randy Myers
San Jose Mercury News
TOP CRITIC
Though a well-travelled journey, this is a big-hearted and fun film that’s well worth flagging down.
March 24, 2022 | Rating: 3/5
Steve Morrissey
Radio Times
The central relationship between a lovelorn burnout and the free-spirited Pineapple keeps the heart in this otherwise-cliched romance film beating.
September 14, 2021
Witney Seibold
Critically Acclaimed Podcast
The film is full of laughs and exactly what it sets out to be.
June 11, 2021 | Rating: 4/5
Aine O’Connor
Sunday Independent (Ireland)
A literal wild ride filled with crazy moments that has a real ’80s wild comedy feel with an unexpected heart – and leaves you with a bit to think about after the laughter stops.
June 11, 2021 | Rating: 8
Paul Salfen
AMFM Magazine
Drunk Bus is surprisingly rather sweet and touching after a while, with nice subplots and a friendly overall tenor that paves over the script’s potholes.
June 9, 2021
Dennis Harvey
48 Hills
Drunk Bus approaches the subject of depression in an original and very interesting way.
June 9, 2021
Hugues Porquier
Battle Royale With Cheese
The symbolism of doing the same thing over and over, on the same route, is apparent, but setting the lesson on a college campus bus keeps the wheels going round and round.
June 4, 2021 | Rating: 3.5/5
Patrick McDonald
HollywoodChicago.com
Never to drag and never to lose itself in too much style, “Drunk Bus” is near tour de force if not fully fulfilled in that sense.
June 4, 2021 | Rating: 4/5
Bill Arceneaux
Moviegoing with Bill…
Plot
Drunk Bus follows recent graduate Michael, whose post-college plan is derailed when his girlfriend leaves him for a job in New York City. When the bus service hires a security guard to watch over the night shift, Michael comes face to face with Pineapple, a 300-pound punk rock Samoan, and the two embark on a rowdy and poignant coming-of-age journey.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
No goofy or funny or odd comments were found in the Fresh Kernels database for Drunk Bus.
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