Movie Review: Bubba Ho-Tep (2002)

Don’t make me use my stuff on ya

Two years ago today was my first movie review, so I have to come out of retirement for one more.

Not only is Elvis not dead, he’s dying in an East Texas retirement community and being portrayed by Bruce Campbell. A crappy retirement home, at that, and his only friend is Jack Kennedy (Ossie Davis) — an elderly black man who claims to be JFK (“They DYED me this color!”). That’s where this movie starts. Well, it really gets going when he starts lamenting his ex-wife and the growth, ahem, “on my pecker.” So right from the get-go, this movie lets us know what’s up.

Then a soul-sucking mummy shows up to feed on the residents. This and Slither are likely tied for my favorite horror-comedy movies.

The acting is great, from everyone involved, with humorous asides from the two guys from the mortuary taking out the bodies as they pile up, Bruce being perfect at an old Elvis bitter that nobody believes him or even cares about him, and Ossie Davis is damned fantastic as Jack Kennedy. Plus, the concept of a mummy (slow, brittle) against people in a retirement home (slow, brittle) is a refreshing take.

Also, the score to this movie, by Brian Tyler, is absolutely flawless. This is one of the best scores for any movie, ever. It perfectly molds to every scene.

This isn’t a scheduled review, so that’s about all I have to say, aside from: see this fuckin’ movie!

Report card
Runtime: Ninety-two minutes.
Acting: Excellent.
Effects: Pretty good, where they’re used.
Violence: Minor.
Dead Oldfolk: Four.
Gun Use: Only plastic ones.
Gore: No.
Creepy? No.
Monster Type? A hillbilly mummy.
Monster Ick Factor: Yes.
Funny? YES
Nudity: Very brief topless female nudity.
Pet Death: No.
Pacing: Great.