Watch My Name Is Bruce
- R
- 2007
- 1 hr 26 min
-
6.1 (25,183)
My Name Is Bruce is a 2007 comedy horror film that stars Bruce Campbell, who also directs and co-writes the movie. The film is a tongue-in-cheek tribute to Campbellâs cult status as the hero of many B-horror movies, particularly in the Evil Dead series. The story follows a group of small-town residents who, in order to vanquish an ancient Chinese demon, decides to kidnap Campbell and force him to play the role of their savior.
The movie opens with a brief introduction of Campbell's character, who is shown living in a rundown trailer park in a small town in Oregon. He is shown unshaven, hungover, and wrestling with debt from his recent alimony payments. Meanwhile, a group of young people who are partying at a local cemetery stumble upon a small Chinese temple and unwittingly awaken Guan-di, a malevolent Chinese demigod.
When the demon starts to attack and kill people, the only person that the townspeople believe can defeat him is Bruce Campbell, their all-time favorite horror movie star. They decide to kidnap him and bring him to the town so that he can fight the demon. However, upon realizing that they have kidnapped the real Bruce Campbell, the residents of the town expect him to actually save them from the demon. Initially, Campbell sees this as a chance to make some money and quickly agrees to help. But as he spends more time in the town, he realizes the extent of the danger that he is in, as well as the limitations of his abilities as a movie actor.
As Campbell tries to figure out how to defeat the demon (who is slowly picking off the townspeople one by one), he is accompanied by a young woman named Kelly Graham (played by Grace Thorsen), who initially serves as his "publicist" of sorts but soon becomes his sidekick in the fight against the demon. Alongside Kelly, Campbell tries to come up with a plan to defeat the demon, but as other members of the town get involved in the struggle, the situation becomes increasingly chaotic.
Overall, My Name Is Bruce is a fun, lighthearted horror film that pays tribute to Campbell's earlier work. The tone of the film is very self-aware and tongue-in-cheek, which perfectly fits Campbell's persona as an actor in B-horror movies. The movie also features a lot of references to Campbell's earlier roles, which will be appreciated by fans of his work. The movie also has a number of comedic moments, especially in the first half of the film, and the chemistry between Campbell and Thorsen is entertaining to watch.
However, the film isn't without flaws. The pacing can be a bit uneven at times, and some of the jokes may not land with every viewer. Additionally, some of the supporting characters are underdeveloped and may feel like they were included solely for comedic effect. Nevertheless, if you're a fan of Campbell's work, or if you enjoy horror movies with a strong comedic element, My Name Is Bruce is definitely worth a watch. The movie perfectly captures Campbell's charisma and camp sensibility in a satisfyingly fun and irreverent way that will leave audiences cheering for the hero by the end.