Bubba Ho-Tep: JFK and Elvis vs. A Mummy

Bubba Ho-Tep (2002)

Bubba Ho-Tep is an American horror comedy written and directed by Don Coscarelli, based on the Bram Stoker Award winning short story by Joe R. Lansdale. Bubba Ho-Tep takes place in The Shady Rest Retirement home in Texas. It stars Bruce Campbell(Evil Dead, Evil Dead II, Army of Darkness) as Elvis Presley, who has ended up in the nursing home after a “hip gyration accident.” Alongside Campbell is Ossie Davis as John Fitzgerald Kennedy, who was dyed black, and hidden away. After some mysterious deaths in the nursing home, Elvis and JFK find themselves facing off against a Mummy.

I find that (in general) American comedies rely upon punchlines, and jokes, and while a good gag, can always get me to laugh, what I find truly funny is the physical comedy first seen by myself in serials such as Laurel & Hardy, the Three Stooges, and Abbott and Costello. It is my belief that the American Horror comedy, is the best domestic genre when it comes to physical, visual comedy. Much like the work of Sam Raimi, Don Coscarelli manages to pull the perfect mix of funny and frightful. The concept of an aged Elvis practitioning martial arts in order to do combat with a mummy sounds funny on paper, but is perfected in its execution.

Bruce Campbell gives one of the best performances in his B-Movie career. Underneath the makeup he is still able to pull of facial expressions, and sayings fitting of “the King.” Ossie Davis gives a great performance as the 35th president of the United States, despite not being Irish, Catholic, or even White. All the other performances of the film are fine, however they are nothing special.

I don’t want to give too much of this away, but this is one of my favorite cult movies of all time. The concept that this film is based on is serviceable by itself. Pair it with excellent performances from Bruce Campbell and the late great Ossie Davis, excellent uses of physical comedy, a genius concept and you have yourself a great time.

I give this film two thumbs up.

Disclaimer: The movie is R-Rated and certainly inappropriate, however pales in comparison to the average show or movie watched by someone my age. It also backs this crudity with a good story, unlike other things.