Bam Bam and Celeste (2005)

I like movies that are aware of what they are selling... without [any] greater aspirations than to make people laugh and that's it.

This is one of the few movies I've ever seen where the whole audience broke into spontaneous, loud applause a third of the way in.

Blistering performances.

This movie feels like it was made purely to piss off people who want good shows

Margaret Cho is a gifted comedian and in this misguided film, there are hysterically funny moments. Margaret plays the titular Celeste like a true manic-depressive. She can be sunny and upbeat one second, and then suicidal the next. The plot, such as it is, follows her and her best friend "Bam Bam" (Bruce Daniels) (and very unclear why he was called that) as they make their way from the hellish small town they've been imprisoned in their whole lives to NYC, where they have managed to land a spot on a make-over show, which is judged by none other than their high school bullies, i.e. the beautiful blonde white people who will get everything in life. En route to NYC, they have off-beat road adventures which involve wonderful cameos by Wilson Cruz and Jane Lynch. Kathy Najimy makes a funny pit-stop and John Cho also has a wonderful supporting part as the cruel and judgmental host of the makeover TV show. But as funny as Margaret and the other characters were, I thought Elaine Hendrix as Jackie, the most obnoxious of the high school bullies, stole the show when she went "black" on Bruce Daniels. It was a scene-stealer. Margaret also does double duty as her own mother, and while she does it beautifully and convincingly, she should have limited it to very short bits. She does one extended bit near the end, trying to talk some sense into Celeste's head and although it was well done, the character's heavy (and authentic) accent almost wiped out the purpose of the speech (to get her daughter to understand the value of love). Ultimately, the film fails... and I hate to say this, because there was a lot of love put into this project... but... after all Celeste goes through, when she apparently comes to the realization that she is "beautiful" as she is, the truth is: she did not need a "make-over" (which, sorry, was a half-assed attempt to make Margaret look glamorous). Celeste is stuck somewhere in the 80s with her spiky haircut, her heavy make-up and her Cindy Lauper hand-me-down dresses. But that's who she was... and, after all the hell she goes through in this movie, the real punch should have been, "I don't need a make-over. I am beautiful the way I am." If she had done that, it would have made this film a lot more powerful. Margaret is definitely talented and funny and the supporting cast did a great job, but sadly the film fails because it is actually not true to itself. But for a quick, easy view and some hearty laughs, it's worth a one-time popcorn night.

I LOVE this edgy flick and I'm here to tell you Celeste & Bambam is gonna be a CULT Classic. YOU HAVEN'T SEEN A FILM LIKE THIS BEFORE! The kinda wild combo of a funky Korean-American girl, Celeste Chun (MARGARET CHO) and hip, gay Black American guy, Bambam (BRUCE DANIELS) teams up to escape "in your face" white racism in the U.S. Midwest. While they work their way cross-country to overcome their past, Celeste tells Bambam "Someday people are gonna wanna hear what WE have to say!" Right on, Celeste! Then there's Margaret's spot-on interpretation of a goofy yet loving Mom, also played by HERSELF. "Who is this?" Mommy asks Celeste on the phone, "I'm sorry, I have to ask everyone for security reasons." There's so much going on in this film and there are more memorable lines & quirky characters. Brit actor ALAN CUMMING plays nice guy Eugene: "High school is the natural habitat of dictators," while JOHN CHO (Harold of "Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle") plays the host of a TV show called "TRADING FACES." I love JANE LYNCH, too, as "Darlene Dawson" - "Just a leeettle bit'a in-breedin'. Just-a touch." And later to Celeste: "I think you're even more beautiful-er in the mornin'." Darlene's the white "lesbian Lone Ranger" with a sweet heart of gold. Later Celeste has a run-in at a gas station where she tells off a racist store attendant calling her ALL kinds of names. "If you're gonna be racist, get a 'neo-Nazi to English' dictionary!" You go, Celeste! I'm not giving away anymore, but mark my words: CELESTE & BAMBAM IS a whole new Cult Classic. If you can handle it check out this flick. Thanks Margaret and Bruce!!

I really like Margaret Cho, I think she's awesome.But this whole movie was in total contrast to the intelligence, wit and actual humour which make her standup so great.It was boring, unoriginal and totally stereotyped. I'm not from America, so I don't know, but are there really *that many* racist/homophobes? That would be that horrible outright? It just seemed contrived. In my experience people tend to be racist/homophobic behind your back, not right to your face.And I normally like Bruce Daniels, but why is his voice so high? I think it's as another member said, to make him sound gayer *rolls eyes*.Overall: Bad script, bad directing, pretty bad acting.I don't know what Alan Cummings was doing in this movie, he is far more talented than the material allows for.

This film is a comedy but it also has Cho's style of fresh brashness and honesty. There are a great number of racial slurs in the script slung at characters throughout the film. I found the non-comedy dialog to be painfully direct. i personally found this difficult to deal with because I am extremely aware of the levels of prejudice in our society. The intensity of the slurs, obviously based upon reality, brought tears to my eyes. But the necessity of people facing the reality of this on-going problem can't be and isn't ignored, even in a comedy loaded with sweetness and clever fun. Still, the cast and actors are established and do a fine job with an interesting script. The direction by Loraine Machado is good too. No film is flawless but this one has a lot to give. The surface may be primarily comedy but there's so much more underneath, a message of unconditional acceptance and caring.