Over the last 10 years, cult film star Bruce Campbell has carved out his own little niche in the Hollywood landscape, but with the release of his latest comedic horror film “Bubba Ho-Tep,” he might just finally find the recognition he’s been looking for.
“Bubba Ho-Tep” initially tells the story of a broken down Elvis Presley (Campbell) who, following a career switch, finds himself in a nursing home with no proof of his true identity. The tale he tells involves an Elvis impersonator who takes his place after he becomes sick with fame, but before the two can switch back the impersonator dies, leaving the real Elvis as nothing more than another crazy, old man.
Meanwhile, strange things are happening at his nursing home, with even more deaths cropping up than usual, and it’s not until Elvis is given a near-fatal wake up call by a giant cockroach that he begins to investigate. Along with a fellow resident, a black man who claims to be JFK (Ossie Davis), the two physically challenged men form a plan that will destroy the cause of the home’s abnormal occurrences: a soul-sucking mummy bent on revenge.
The overall concept of “Bubba Ho-Tep” may seem a bit odd and campy at times, but the weak plot, which is based on a short story, is carried throughout by Campbell’s whimsical performance. His consistent voice-over narrations are enough to make the film the hilarious romp that it is, but his entire Elvis impersonation is a picture perfect achievement and deserves more than just independent award nominations. While “Bubba Ho-Tep” is silly enough to skip out on, Bruce Campbell is always a pleasure to watch. His deadpan recount of the King’s fictitious life is worth the few bucks it will cost to get into one of the few theaters actually showing the film.
3/5 Stars
Starring: Bruce Campbell, Ossie Davis
Director: Don Coscarelli