Bubba Ho-Tep is the good kind of horror-comedy. You're probably familiar with the bad kind, the kind that came after Wes Craven Presents The Scream. These films tended to think there was nothing funnier than to have the characters named after fellas what made the tea for Jess Franco, and to have them say things like "Man, this is just like that scene in Dawn Of The Mummy when the guy gets his guts ate."
That kind of humour is just plain lazy, unless it's done by the delightful Kevin Smith, AKA Silent Jay.
But the humour in this here film what goes by the name of Bubba Ho-Tep, it puts the effort in. In fact, when things go all horrorised, you kinda wish it wouldn't, on account of the characters being so brilliant, and Bruce delivering the best lines this side of Sam Raimi.
The Duke's personal favourite - "There'd been two presidential elections since I had a boner like that one."
See also, "Come and get it you undead sack a'shit."
Seriously, there's more great lines in this than there is on Richard Pryor's coffee table.
Surprisingly, there's also a deep level of pathos running through the whole shebang, so much so that you actually feel a bit teary-eyed when Elvis watches some of his old movies on cable, cursing himself for ever making them. He can be well pleased with this one, though.
Even if for some reason you don't like Bruce Campbell, you'll still find that this is fantastic, I'm guessing. What's not to like? Elvis and JFK fighting a mummy in a rest home. And it's a decent mummy too, and even looks kinda scary, a bit like The Creeper from Jeepers Creepers. Victor Salva, I think his name was. It's not like those CGI crap-fests from The Mummy and The Mummy 2 - The Return Of The Mummy. This is one evil lookin' sack of nostril-maggots right here.
But it's Bruce's show as far as The Duke is concerned. This man has the best comic timing you'll ever hear. And as screen Elvises go, he's a lot more convincing than the one in Elvis - The Movie, or Jailhouse Rock.
Article comments
1 - jadester
Looks like i'll have to check this out. I loved bruce in Evil Dead 3 (so far the only one of his films i've got around to watching), which is why i clicked the pic on Blogcritics' front page.
Does the Necronomicon make an appearance in this film too?
2 - Aaron, Duke De Mondo
No necronomicon I'm afriad, but JFK does produce a book all about the evil and how stuff likes to eat souls and so forth. It did bring Ash to mind, for sure. As to other Campbell classics, might i suggest his piece de resistance, Evil Dead 2. If you ever see better physical comedy this side of Chaplin, then i will be tres suprised.
3 - smenkharon
Evil Dead 2 is definately his peice de resistance! Also there have been many rumours flying that his Ash character from those movies maybe added to a Freddy Vs. Jason Vs. Ash sequel!
4 - Aaron, Duke De Mondo
Yeah, FvJvA was touted after the release of the initial team-up (which i personally found very enjoyable. Ronny Yu's earlier horror icon revitalisation - bride of chucky - was great fun too) . I think it had to do with New Line having the rights to all 3 characters. It'd be fun, but i don't know how much of Ash's wonderment is due to Sam Raimi. Would an ash flick without Sam work?
5 - jadester
btw, i hope by now you've heard of the upcoming Evil Dead comic series. Apparently not an actual adaptation of Evil Dead 3, it will be set in that past universe with the deadites and Arthur and so on. Hopefully it will do the base material justice
6 - Aaron, Duke De Mondo
Wow! That could be very cool indeed. Will Ash be in it i wonder? Hmm. The Medieval Dead comic book. Hopefulyl when its done they'll collect them all in a nice graphic novel - AKA the comics that its ok for grown-ups to read.
7 - Jim Carruthers
Nah, it's just going to be only about SMart. Think "Malcolm In The Middle" without the kids. Just Bruce and Lois. And shotguns and zombies.
8 - Jim Carruthers
What makes Bubba Ho-Tep really frightening is what is worse: cancer of the dick, or being left alone in an old folks home where the best you can do is look at some occasional love muffin.
9 - Aaron, Duke De Mondo
I think i'd choose the rest home. Especially if that nurse from off the cover of Enema Of The State by The Blink 82's was on the staff.
10 - Jim Carruthers
Elvis used to come in just before we'd go onstage, we'd be leaving the dressing room to prepare and he'd come in with that huge entourage. And inevitably Elvis'd look across that group of people and single out one person. One night, on that last tour, I was ready to go on the stage and ... "Hey, Tony ...." I'm thinking, 'Whoah, the King has called'. So I turned around and walked back towards him. And he looked at me and said, 'Er, damn. I forgot what I was going to say.'
And isn't that what life is like?
11 - visualsimplicity
Hey jadester, if you've seen any other Sam Raimi films, it's highly likely that you've seen another Bruce Campbell film (although he might not have been the star). Sam has Bruce in pretty much all his films (ie: Spiderman).
12 - jadester
i did spot him in spiderman (it's been awhile, but wasn't he the newspaper guy? i *did* only see it twice so far...) and i'm pretty sure i've seen him in other cameos/etc.
I must get his autobiography thingy next time a get a few books from amazon. Should be good for some laughs.
13 - Aaron, Duke De Mondo
The bruce cameo in spiderman was as the wrestling announcer (although he was fairly unrecognisable if you didn't know to look for him) who tells peter parker that "the human spider" is a crap name, and gives the name spider-man instead. Its also the best cameo in a film bursting with great cameos, notable "macho man" randy savage, and stan lee himself.