Rabbit Test (film)

Rabbit Test

Company type	Film
Industry	Film industry
Founded	1978
Founder	Joan Rivers
Headquarters	United States
Products	Comedy film

Rabbit Test is a 1978 American comedy film that explores the concept of the first-ever pregnant man. The movie was directed and co-written by Joan Rivers and features Billy Crystal in his debut film role.

This project marked Joan Rivers' sole venture into directing; she also makes a brief appearance portraying a nurse. The film was produced by her husband, Edgar Rosenberg. Notably, it is the only theatrical movie scored by Mike Post and Pete Carpenter. Additionally, Michael Keaton appears in his first feature film in a minor, non-speaking part.

The title alludes to the Friedman test, commonly referred to as the rabbit test, a historical medical technique used to detect pregnancy.

Plot

Lionel Carpenter (Billy Crystal), a night school instructor who has yet to experience romantic success, remains a virgin until his cousin Danny (Alex Rocco) sets him up for a one-night encounter. Following this, Lionel develops symptoms such as nausea and vomiting, which he uses as a pretext to pursue a relationship with one of his immigrant pupils, Segoynia Savaka (Joan Prather), leading to a budding romance.

Segoynia’s grandmother, who practices fortune-telling (Roddy McDowall in drag), foretells that Lionel will become the world's first pregnant man. This prophecy triggers a series of humorous events surrounding his condition and society’s reactions. Meanwhile, the military becomes involved due to presidential concerns about how male pregnancy might affect population dynamics.

The climax, presented in a Nativity-inspired style, depicts Lionel going into labor. The scene then transitions to Heaven where God announces the successful birth: "Oh my god... It's a girl!"

Cast

The principal cast consists of:

Production

After major studios declined to finance the project, Joan Rivers personally funded roughly half of the $997,000 budget by refinancing her home and obtaining similar financial backing from her father. The remainder was raised through investment arrangements. Rivers secured numerous cameo appearances on a limited budget by offering minimum union pay ($185) with additional bonuses contingent on the film earning over $18 million. Marketing and promotional efforts received an extra budget allocation of $1 million.

Release

Rabbit Test had a limited pre-release on February 17, 1978, screening in six cities: Nashville, Rochester, Columbus, Houston, Denver, and Portland, followed by its official premiere in Los Angeles on April 7.

Reception

Critical response to Rabbit Test was largely unfavorable:

• Roger Ebert awarded it 1 out of 4 stars, criticizing it as unfunny despite quirky characters and occasional one-liners.
• Gene Siskel gave it 1.5 out of 4 stars, dismissing it as trivial and lacking taste due to repetitive ethnic stereotypes and crude humor.
• Janet Maslin pointed out Rivers’ dependence on weak jokes and inconsistent storytelling.
• Variety characterized the film as thinly constructed with forced setups that failed to sustain humor.
• Kevin Thomas described it as crude and lacking in humor despite Rivers’ previous success as a writer.
• Gary Arnold regarded it as an exhausting farce featuring consistently flat jokes.

Joan Rivers actively promoted the film by attending screenings in Chicago theaters where she entertained audiences with humor and signed autographs; these appearances often received standing ovations.

At its screening during The Secret Cinema event in 2018, the film earned an exceptionally low score of 1.7 out of 10 from judges—the lowest rating recorded at that event.

Despite critical disapproval, Rabbit Test achieved commercial success by grossing over $12 million within four months after its release.

External links

• IMDb: Rabbit Test
• Rotten Tomatoes: Rabbit Test
• TCMDb: Rabbit Test