GPM: Bubba Ho-tep (2002)

Few film descriptions have created a greater sense of urgency to see it than that of Bubba Ho-tep: "Elvis and JFK, both alive and in nursing homes, fight for the souls of their fellow residents as they battle an ancient Egyptian Mummy." If that synopsis isn't intriguing enough you, there are plenty of memorable comedic moments that are as hilarious as they are extreme. The film opens with an elderly Elvis (Bruce Campbell) talking about his erectile dysfunction- "I felt my pecker flutter once, like a pigeon havin' a heart attack." After realizing that something is amiss in his nursing home, he teams up with an African American man claiming to be the late John F. Kennedy (Ossie Davis) who attempts to read hieroglyphics and offers up his collection of Ding-Dongs. Can JFK and Elvis stop the mounting force of evil from centuries gone-by? Will you be able to take a minute of this film seriously? While I won't spoil the answer to the first question, I feel confident in asserting that the answer to the latter query is a definitive "no." And yet I feel every bit as confident that you will find something memorable or hilarious to latch onto.

There is a very fine line between a "cult classic" and absurdist drivel and it's a tough one to define. I have often heard friends and colleagues describe a movie in positive terms because "it does not take itself too seriously." But ultimately this cannot be a defining characteristic of good film-making. In fact, many film-makers attempt to cash in on this sentiment (See Snakes on a Plane or Hot Tub Time Machine) in order to cover up a complete lack of ingenuity of plot or poor acting performances. Undeniably, Bubba Ho-tep has one of the more ridiculous premises I have ever encountered. And yet, against all odds, it remains one of the more enjoyable film experiences of my life.