From the outset this sounds as insubstantial and throw-away-able as a good Saturday Night Live sketch. "Elderly Elvis vs. a mummy. (Haha) Okay, what else you got?"
And if that was all there was to it, we would be done here. But this film is actually about a whole lot more.
First let's begin with the performances. We've got Bruce Campbell (who should have done more and been taken more seriously. Damn, he should have played the Spirit when he was younger) totally committing, not to an impression but a performance. Then there is Ossie Davis, giving it all in what may have been his last performance, as John F. Kennedy. The explanation about what either of these two is doing in a southern old age home is something I will leave to the excellent script to tell you, but it is not long before
we want to believe they are both who they say they are.
Then, there is the Mummy, and what he represents. The comsuming monster that lurkes for us all, old age. That he is threatening two figures who represent the hopes and dreams of all our youths is even more frightening.
Here is the cast:
Bruce Campbell . . . Elvis
Ossie Davis . . . Jack
Ella Joyce . . . The Nurse
Heidi Marnhout . . . Callie
Bob Ivy . . . Bubba Ho-tep
Edith Jefferson . . . Elderly Woman
Larry Pennell . . . Kemosabe
Reggie Bannister . . . Rest Home Administrator
Daniel Roebuck . . . Hearse Driver
Daniel Schweiger . . . Hearse Driver
There is supposed to be a sequel, and I'll go see it, but I doubt it can be as good. It may be as funny (and this one is, first, last and always funny) but there is something more in this one if you are willing to let yourself see it. If you haven't seen this one, do yourself a favor and do so. You won't even have to do any Elvis jokes to like it.
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