Bubba Ho-tep (2002)

This is a tender, generous movie that likes its characters and presents them as real people, full of flaws and strengths.

It was OK. I don't see why everyone loves it so much. It wasn't very smart or deep or well-directed.

The best films of this genre always show a path and provide a takeaway for being a better person.

Excellent characters with emotional depth. My wife, daughter and granddaughter all enjoyed it...and me, too! Very good movie! You won't be disappointed.

In case you weren't already aware, but Elvis 'The King' Presley lives. In fact, he's an elderly gentleman spending his twilight years in an old people's home. And John F Kennedy is also a resident there, too. And JFK is black. And they're about to get their souls sucked out of them by an undead runaway mummy from Egypt if they're not careful. No, seriously. Or at least in (the bizarrely-titled) 'Bubba Ho-Tep' they are anyway.Yes, the film's premise is just about as 'out there' as it's title is hard to decipher (I'm not even going to try - there's some text at the beginning of the film that does a better job). So, if that brief plot summary appeals to you then you should have absolutely love this film. I did.I guess I was always predisposed to loving 'Bubba Ho-Tep' as Elvis is played (to perfection, I might add) by legendary B-movie star Bruce Campbell. However, instead of fighting the undead with a chainsaw and 'boom-stick,' here he's a little more handicapped with only a zimmer-frame and faulty plumbing keeping his soul from being lost forever. If you think that Bruce Campbell 'carries' the 'Evil Dead' franchise (then you're probably right), but the point I'm making is that this film would probably be nothing without him and his portrayal of Elvis. He plays 'the King' as a retrospective character, now in the twilight of his years and looking back over the mistakes he made and wishing there was a way of atoning for all the years he'd wasted on chasing fame when there were more important things to concentrate on - like family.Elvis' partner in crime (and only other person who actually believes he's really the king of rock and roll) is former president, John F Kennedy, played by Ossie Davis. If you're wondering why a black man is playing JFK then you'll have to watch the film to find out!. Either way, Davis does very well, but his character isn't given quite as much screen time as Campbell's, meaning he's always going to be second best to 'the chin.'Bubba Ho-Tep' was always destined to be a 'cult' film. It's title is obscure and was never likely to interest the masses. Just like the subject matter is hardly going to get the public flocking to the cinema (was it ever even released in the cinema? I certainly don't remember hearing about it here in the UK!). But, whether you're a die-hard fan of Bruce (like myself), or just fancy a film that doesn't contain superheroes flying around New York, then you should give this one a go. It's got horror. It's got comedy. It's got originality. And, best of all, it has Bruce.

Two residents of a nursing home believe they are Elvis and Jack Kennedy. They set out to save the souls by battling a soul sucking mummy.Bruce Campbell and Ossie Davis are wonderfully funny!Worth a view for the laughs!

I wish I could rate this movie a 0 out of ten cause I don't think it deserves the 1 I have to give it because this is the dumbest movie I have ever seen.i don't know why it has a high rating?i have seen a lot of boring movies but this one has to be the worst one i have ever seen.this movie should be on the bottom 100 list. i have never seen nothing this dumb before .the movie did not make sense to me at all.i wasted my money and time watching this garbage and I want my money and time back. I would rather watch those other boring movies I seen before then watch this garbage again. I would not recommend this movie to anyone. Don't even watch it free cause your just gonna be wasting your time instead of doing something useful with it and especially don't buy cause that will be even dumber then watching it for free. So my advice is to stay away from this garbage. If you see this movie anywhere destroy it or burn it cause thats how awful it is.

The whole notion of the film has that cult comic book vibe and feels like a silly spin off from something else. It does sound like one of those cool ideas that you've heard about from the comic book world, that you'd think would be awesome as a film...but it probably won't ever get made, a bit like 'Freddy vs Jason vs Ash'.Yet despite that this is one of those ideas that reads well on paper, would work well in comic book/graphic novel form, but for some reason hasn't translated that well onto film. The plot is fast n loose and unfortunately doesn't really give you much info. An aged Elvis living in a crappy retirement home (he swapped places with an Elvis impersonator to escape the limelight) must do battle with an ancient Egyptian mummy who is sucking the old folk dry of their souls. I use the word battle loosely.It sounds friggin' awesome, then you read it stars Bruce Campbell as Elvis and things just get better and better. This could almost be some kind of weird alternative dimension for his 'Ash' character...if you really really try to think of it that way. It sounds ultra cool and seeing Campbell as an old Elvis (and young) is ultra cool, even though he kinda looks like Kevin Costner's Elvis impersonator from '3000 Miles to Graceland'. Its not an accurate depiction of Elvis of course, more of a comic book version with added Raimi-esque spice n dialog. Yep Campbell will forever be associated with his quirky Evil Dead hero character...especially in quirky horror comedies such as this.The problem for me with the film is how slow it is and the fact nothing much really happens. There is a lot about Elvis and how he suffers in his old age, he reminisces about his fame and youth and generally moans a lot. At times it is amusing for sure but there comes a point when I just wanted something to actually happen. When it does it kinda feels unexplained and a bit of an anti climax really. The fact Elvis needs a zimmer frame (walker) to walk all the time restricts the films excitement potential also. The whole mummy side of it just isn't laid out right frankly, no real reasons for its occurrence, no proper closure, no reasons for its actions etc...its just there and dressed as a cowboy for some reason.The film is also kinda drab looking throughout which is a bit depressing. I know that's part of the films story but I did yearn to see some brighter visuals and a bit more colour. I think they downplayed Elvis's room and the retirement home, it didn't need to be so shitty looking, old fashioned sure but not so shitty.Eventually we come to the showdown at the end and I was kinda expecting something a bit special, it sorta builds up to it. But alas!!! its very weak and pretty mundane despite Campbell's verbal quips. Two old men, one in an electric wheelchair and the other who can hardly walk without a zimmer frame, both take on a mummy who also walks very very slowly and does not a lot (doesn't even look that good either). It doesn't sound too great does it, and in all honesty it isn't, its unique and quirky but ultimately a let down. The finale is sombre and acceptable but feels right admittedly.This is how the entire film feels for me really, its a wicked idea and probably works much better as a graphic novel. Campbell looks good and sounds good as Elvis and saves the film completely, without him it would be B-movie trash, well the film is a B-movie really, a B-movie with Bruce Campbell in it. Overall I can see how this has become a total cult classic with its Evil Dead-esque cheap looking visuals and theme and I will give it plus points for that. On the other hand I do think director Coscarelli is riding on the coattails of the Evil Dead/Raimi franchise a bit too much.'Don't make me use my stuff on ya, baby!'6/10