 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
BUBBA HO-TEP
* * * * (2002, 93 minutes, Rated R)
Hail to The King, Baby.
There are many, many, many, many movies out there that take a standard genre and tip it a bit on
its head. Sometimes they’re clever and sometimes they’re forcing it, but I can always understand
how someone came up with the idea. But I can’t even imagine what combination of inspiration and
pharmaceuticals came up with the plot of Bubba Ho-Tep.
IMDB.com sums it up thusly: “Elvis and JFK, both alive and in nursing homes, fight for the souls of
their fellow residents as they battle an ancient Egyptian mummy.” Oh, and JFK is played by Ossie
Davis.
* * * * (2002, 93 minutes, Rated R)
Hail to The King, Baby.
There are many, many, many, many movies out there that take a standard genre and tip it a bit on
its head. Sometimes they’re clever and sometimes they’re forcing it, but I can always understand
how someone came up with the idea. But I can’t even imagine what combination of inspiration and
pharmaceuticals came up with the plot of Bubba Ho-Tep.
IMDB.com sums it up thusly: “Elvis and JFK, both alive and in nursing homes, fight for the souls of
their fellow residents as they battle an ancient Egyptian mummy.” Oh, and JFK is played by Ossie
Davis.
 |
Thing is, Bubba Ho-Tep is a surprisingly slippery film.
So while the plot summary on IMDB.com may be
accurate (though I’ll question that in a bit), it’s highly
misleading. You might, understandably, imagine
Bubba Ho-Tep to be the kind of film where American
Icons join forces to kick all sorts of undead ass, all
while the viewing audience chants, “USA! USA! USA!”
And you would be disappointed, because Bubba Ho-
Tep is not that film.
Bubba Ho-Tep has something meatier in mind.
The film stars Bruce Campbell, in arguably the best
performance of his career, as an Elvis Presley who is
alive but not well. Set in present day, we find “Sebastian
Haff” in the kind of nursing home where people are
sent to be forgotten. Right off the bat, the bedridden
Haff complains about the growth on his member, but
his complaints are more defeated grumbling than
concern or anger. Instead, Haff lays in bed and
watches the world zip by as he floats in and out of
consciousness.
So while the plot summary on IMDB.com may be
accurate (though I’ll question that in a bit), it’s highly
misleading. You might, understandably, imagine
Bubba Ho-Tep to be the kind of film where American
Icons join forces to kick all sorts of undead ass, all
while the viewing audience chants, “USA! USA! USA!”
And you would be disappointed, because Bubba Ho-
Tep is not that film.
Bubba Ho-Tep has something meatier in mind.
The film stars Bruce Campbell, in arguably the best
performance of his career, as an Elvis Presley who is
alive but not well. Set in present day, we find “Sebastian
Haff” in the kind of nursing home where people are
sent to be forgotten. Right off the bat, the bedridden
Haff complains about the growth on his member, but
his complaints are more defeated grumbling than
concern or anger. Instead, Haff lays in bed and
watches the world zip by as he floats in and out of
consciousness.
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
It was my 2011 New Year’s Resolution to focus on Reader Recommendations, so it’s
only fitting that I close out the year with a Very Special Reader Recommendation…
This recommendation comes from the unofficial editor of the Bargain Bin Review, who
periodically drops me a line to let me know I botched the spelling of something. Well, he’ll
write in about other things, too. But mostly to keep me in line.
I get the impression that when he’s done this for others in the past, the response has
been less than appreciative. I think that’s crazy pills. The way I see it, the guy likes my
writing enough to 1) overlook the fact that I’m crap at spelling, and 2) give me the head’s
up so that The 'Bin can appear competent and reputable.
So thank you, Dan. Here is your Reader Recommendation…
only fitting that I close out the year with a Very Special Reader Recommendation…
This recommendation comes from the unofficial editor of the Bargain Bin Review, who
periodically drops me a line to let me know I botched the spelling of something. Well, he’ll
write in about other things, too. But mostly to keep me in line.
I get the impression that when he’s done this for others in the past, the response has
been less than appreciative. I think that’s crazy pills. The way I see it, the guy likes my
writing enough to 1) overlook the fact that I’m crap at spelling, and 2) give me the head’s
up so that The 'Bin can appear competent and reputable.
So thank you, Dan. Here is your Reader Recommendation…
| Ossie Davis (above) was a highly acclaimed actor whose career spanned over 50 years. No word on how often he was confused for John F. Kennedy. |
We soon get Haff’s story: Sick of the phoniness and intrusiveness of fame, Elvis sought out
Sebastian Haff, the best Elvis impersonator around, and switched identities with him “Prince and
the Pauper”-style. Any proof Elvis had to his true identity went up in flames shortly after in a freak
barbecuing incident. Elvis (as Haff) later fell off the stage during an Elvis impersonator
performance, breaking his hip and slipped into a coma. And, his attending nurse adds, his head
hasn’t been quite right since.
Sebastian Haff, the best Elvis impersonator around, and switched identities with him “Prince and
the Pauper”-style. Any proof Elvis had to his true identity went up in flames shortly after in a freak
barbecuing incident. Elvis (as Haff) later fell off the stage during an Elvis impersonator
performance, breaking his hip and slipped into a coma. And, his attending nurse adds, his head
hasn’t been quite right since.
| We could debate whether his character is Elvis, but Bruce Campbell (above) is The King. |
The only one who believes this story
is Jack (Ossie Davis), an elderly
black man who is convinced that he
is John F. Kennedy. After the
assassination attempt, they
replaced part of his brain with sand
and dyed him black, Jack explains.
No, Sebastian isn’t buying it either.
Which is why I was surprised to see
so many write-ups on Bubba Ho-
Tep simply taking it for granted that
these two are who they claim to be.
Jack’s story is utterly ridiculous, but
is Jack (Ossie Davis), an elderly
black man who is convinced that he
is John F. Kennedy. After the
assassination attempt, they
replaced part of his brain with sand
and dyed him black, Jack explains.
No, Sebastian isn’t buying it either.
Which is why I was surprised to see
so many write-ups on Bubba Ho-
Tep simply taking it for granted that
these two are who they claim to be.
Jack’s story is utterly ridiculous, but
there’s actually plenty here to cast doubt on the Elvis story, too. Just because his is more
plausible doesn’t mean that he’s not really a confused Sebastian Haff. Certainly the idea of
wanting to be more than you currently are would fit nicely into the bigger themes of the film.
I guess it doesn’t matter whether they‘re the real Elvis and JFK or just delusional, because what is
definitely true is that the nursing home is being stalked by the title character, a soul-sucking
plausible doesn’t mean that he’s not really a confused Sebastian Haff. Certainly the idea of
wanting to be more than you currently are would fit nicely into the bigger themes of the film.
I guess it doesn’t matter whether they‘re the real Elvis and JFK or just delusional, because what is
definitely true is that the nursing home is being stalked by the title character, a soul-sucking
| The undead get all the cool lighting. |
reanimated mummy in cowboy duds. It
takes them a while to figure out (and
believe) what‘s going on, but just the
investigation alone gives our duo a purpose
that makes them feel more alive than they
had in years.
And that gets to the real heart of Bubba Ho-
Tep. Instead of a rollicking good adventure
with Elvis and JFK fighting the undead, this
is a quirky but thoughtful meditation on
getting old. And it’s here that the choice of
characters becomes deliberate -- doesn’t
takes them a while to figure out (and
believe) what‘s going on, but just the
investigation alone gives our duo a purpose
that makes them feel more alive than they
had in years.
And that gets to the real heart of Bubba Ho-
Tep. Instead of a rollicking good adventure
with Elvis and JFK fighting the undead, this
is a quirky but thoughtful meditation on
getting old. And it’s here that the choice of
characters becomes deliberate -- doesn’t
matter if you’re a monarch from ancient Egypt or the King of Rock & Roll, because our bodies all
break down in the end.
Bubba Ho-Tep has plenty to say about how today’s society treats the elderly, too. Other (younger)
characters are all too quick to either forget about or disrespect the residents of the nursing home,
going so far as to toss a Purple Heart in the trash like it was just another trinket. “Get old, you
can't even cuss someone and have it bother 'em,” Sebastian complains at one point, “Everything
you do is either worthless or sadly amusing.” It‘s no wonder that Sebastian, alone and with his
body failing, clings to his memories and regrets -- they’re all he has left.
Yes, I know this has been a humorless review on a seemingly humorless film, but while Bubba
Ho-Tep has a lot to say, and it’s not quite as dour as I’ve made it sound. There’s a good bit of
humor here, though sometimes it feels a bit out of step with the rest of the film (such as the
recurring scenes of the undertakers picking up the recently departed, which are played a bit too
broadly). But even those work some of the time, such as the Egyptian captions to Bubba’s insults.
So while the humor is there, it really is the thoughtful meditation on aging that makes the climax a
triumph, as these two men are roused into battle to save the souls of their fellow residents. It’s a
clever climax, as our duo takes the fight to an undead entity about as well as a couple of not-so-
able bodied senior citizens can. But at least they are fully alive and fighting for something they care
about. May we all be so lucky.
break down in the end.
Bubba Ho-Tep has plenty to say about how today’s society treats the elderly, too. Other (younger)
characters are all too quick to either forget about or disrespect the residents of the nursing home,
going so far as to toss a Purple Heart in the trash like it was just another trinket. “Get old, you
can't even cuss someone and have it bother 'em,” Sebastian complains at one point, “Everything
you do is either worthless or sadly amusing.” It‘s no wonder that Sebastian, alone and with his
body failing, clings to his memories and regrets -- they’re all he has left.
Yes, I know this has been a humorless review on a seemingly humorless film, but while Bubba
Ho-Tep has a lot to say, and it’s not quite as dour as I’ve made it sound. There’s a good bit of
humor here, though sometimes it feels a bit out of step with the rest of the film (such as the
recurring scenes of the undertakers picking up the recently departed, which are played a bit too
broadly). But even those work some of the time, such as the Egyptian captions to Bubba’s insults.
So while the humor is there, it really is the thoughtful meditation on aging that makes the climax a
triumph, as these two men are roused into battle to save the souls of their fellow residents. It’s a
clever climax, as our duo takes the fight to an undead entity about as well as a couple of not-so-
able bodied senior citizens can. But at least they are fully alive and fighting for something they care
about. May we all be so lucky.
Are you looking for some second
opinions on Bubba Ho-Tep? Well, look no
further...
Cool Awesome Movies
FilmArcade.net
Geeks of Doom
Obscure Horror
opinions on Bubba Ho-Tep? Well, look no
further...
Cool Awesome Movies
FilmArcade.net
Geeks of Doom
Obscure Horror