Review of My Name Is Bruce (2007) by Steve T — 18 Jul 2009

Review: At this point, Bruce Campbell has achieved a level of cult status that will never die. There are far too many 'Boomstick' T-shirt-sporting fanboys out there for that to happen (I'm proud to announce I'm amongst them). Because so much of the Campbell appeal involves ironically enjoying his work in terrible direct to DVD trash, the man can do whatever he wants and the fans will love him for it. This weird level of celebrity is the heart of My Name is Bruce, Campbell's latest directorial effort.

Bruce plays a washed-up trailer park version of himself who is asked to come to a small town and kill an ancient Chinese spirit. Of course, Bruce merely thinks it's all some kind of role-playing fun and doesn't realize that he has to battle real evil until it's too late. This movie had it's potential to be one of his funniest flicks, but sadly it's barely better than any of the cheesy genre movies he mocks mercilessly in the film. The story is predictable from the first scene, as are most of Campbell's painfully obvious one liners. That said, should it really be surprising that a film about the ultimate B-movie superstar is a joke? And while some disposable able chunks of the film will keep it from appealing to anyone outside of the cult of Bruce, there are still plenty of things to enjoy.

Ted Raimi pops up in three funny roles, as does some familiar faces from a certain Dead trilogy. The script is filled with in-jokes for fans, and the entire project has a self-mocking tone that prevents it from being taken too seriously. Then there's Campbell himself, who, as always, effortlessly tosses out sarcastic one-liners, giddily dives into painful physical comedy and knowingly winks at the audience through the cheesiest scenes. For Bruce Campbell lovers this should be geek nirvana. It's just a shame that a little more effort wasn't put into the screenplay to broaden the appeal. This ain't no Bubba Ho-Tep for damn sure.