My Name is Mudd - Tyler trashes Ashes Farce

Good God Almighty, Bruce?

There is one review that had been missing from the already extensive reports of the festival this year and that is of the work in progress by Horror cult hero "My Name Is Bruce" Campbell starring none other than the chinman himself. Now the term work-in-progress is supposed to shelter this film from any premature critical conclusions being drawn, but unless they start completely over there's only one conclusion that can be drawn here. To be honest the only thing unfinished about this witless send-up is a few effects shots and sound and music cues to finish up. So, I have a few opinions to share.

The plot of this comedy horror genre piece concerns a washed up B Movie actor (Campbell playing a pathetic, smarmy version of himself) kidnapped on his birthday by the residents of a small Oregon town who believe that he has actual supernatural powers of heroism that can save the town from a vengefull Chinese demon.

Now that plot alone is really absurd but you can picture these guys dreaming the scenario up over plenty of drinks and thinking the idea of Campbell as a washed-up, womanizing creep who thinks his fans are nerds would be fertile soil for a good slapstick lampoon job. The problem is the jokes are so cheesy and the script so awful that everything in this film completely misses the mark. It's just not funny and for true fans of Campbell, I think it comes off rather sad. We have such desperate attempts at humor as a lame musical number that repeats itself over and over until you want to beg for mercy and townspeople so poorly acted and fake you'd think Campbell recruited them off the street for free food. In fact the only funny parts of this travesty are the villain, a glowing piece of plastic, and a dummy stand in for Bruce.

I saw this at a screening on Saturday night at the Palms Theatre in Vegas, a screening intended for fans and afterword Bruce gave a few tidbits on the production an invited questions, mostly such dying queries as "why no Army of Darkness 4?" and "Do you and Kevin Sorbo have a thing goin' on?" and other such inanity. During this all I was tempted to stand up and ask If Mr. Campbell should just shelve this and start from scratch with a better script but I lost my nerve and held my peace. Too bad.

One thing I have heard is that some people call this a fan movie but sorry, I don't think a fan movie can suceed if it insults the intelligence of the fans to which it appeals. Really awful film. Pity.