Hail to the King, Baby. Bruce Campbell and Old Spice.

May 19, 2007 9:00 PM

Y'know, I'm Hungry Like the Wolfyoutube. And I don't mean Duran Duran. I mean, Bruce Campbell and Old Spice. Behind the scenesyoutube of the commercial. Earlier Old Spice commercial about Experienceyoutube. Bruce's acting (or over the top machismo) has grown on me over the last couple of years, and the commercials hit it pretty well. If you want a little more, you might want to read If Chins Could Kill. Turns out, Bruce is considered one of the best Reverse Actors (I couldn't find any video of this.) Hail to the King, baby!youtube
posted by filmgeek (31 comments total)

The best reverse actor would be, of course, Val Kilmer in Top Secret! The entire scene in the library is shot in reverse -- including the dialogue.
posted by flarbuse at 9:09 PM on May 19, 2007

I love that man. I just love him to death.
posted by cortex at 9:12 PM on May 19, 2007

Is it just me or did they change the old Old Spice bottle to look really really bright red & phallic?
posted by miss lynnster at 9:16 PM on May 19, 2007

Is that an Old Spice bottle in your pocket or are you just happy to see me?
posted by phaedon at 9:18 PM on May 19, 2007

Weird, I just saw that commercial for the first time about 30 minutes ago. While watching a broadcast of Zoolander on Comedy Central on a Saturday night. Yeah.
posted by brain_drain at 9:43 PM on May 19, 2007

Thanks - would have missed this. Not nearly as good as the "Experience" ad, but still good to see Bruce.

This ad feels like they've just cast him as Shatner. But they're subtly different personas, so it seems a little off.
posted by LobsterMitten at 10:33 PM on May 19, 2007

And yeah, miss lynnster, the new bottle is revolting. Ugh. Baboon weener.
posted by LobsterMitten at 10:34 PM on May 19, 2007

Bruce Campbell is not used well in that commercial. Kinda sad, really.

The behind the scenes just makes it seem like they are all trying way too hard for something with zero payoff.
posted by qwip at 10:35 PM on May 19, 2007

Knowing that you need to rub a red penis into your armpits is payoff enough for me.
posted by NoMich at 10:42 PM on May 19, 2007 [1 favorite]

I like Bruce, and always look forward to seeing him in Coen brothers movies. Did he chunk out or something?
posted by BrotherCaine at 10:42 PM on May 19, 2007

beware the red penis sfw
posted by phaedon at 11:08 PM on May 19, 2007

I just got back from Spiderman 3, where Bruce Campbell provided a hilarious cameo. Not to be missed.
posted by mach at 11:24 PM on May 19, 2007

Bruce Campbell has been a personal hero of mine for the last decade and a half or so. You can't have a post about him without linking to his site: bruce-campbell.com, and you have to appreciate that he actually writes for that site.

To further his cause, I believe that Confessions is the book that convinced me that, with enough effort, I could make my own bad film.

And if I have to be totally honest, other than me, I know of one man my Wife has kissed while we have been together. I was there, and she laid one one Bruce himself when signing her book. I should have been aghast. But all I could think was, My girl just kissed my hero. I'll call this a wash and walk away.
posted by quin at 11:44 PM on May 19, 2007

Ash fighting his evil hand. A good portion of the scenes were done in reverse, some of the dvd's have commentary about it, this is the youtube link i could find:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zSTvN-NrRfM
posted by mrzarquon at 1:37 AM on May 20, 2007

I don't think that scene has much reverse acting in it, but it does have a great hand scene. I think the big scenes are ones including the transformations / evil ash.

(Also the tree rape scene in evil dead was done in reverse, with the vines being pulled off her).
posted by mrzarquon at 1:41 AM on May 20, 2007

last link corrected dumbass :)
posted by phaedon at 2:51 AM on May 20, 2007

Bruce Campbell actually turned in a fine, surprisingly subtle comic performance in the latest Spiderman movie. Between that and Bubba Ho Tep, I'd say there's a possibility of him producing some great work as an actor, rather than as a chin that swaggers comically, which is how he has been used for most of his career, including in this commercial.

That being said, nobody can deliver a line like "This is my boom stick" like Campbell.
posted by Astro Zombie at 5:00 AM on May 20, 2007

Wow. Bruce Campbell needs money bad enough to do Shatner? What did he do with his Spider-man check?

quin: yes, you could theoretically go out and make your own bad film (iirc, made for $500k, grossed $14m, only one crew fatality.) Sadly, shooting a stinker isn't as much of a life experience as you'd expect. Except for the bankruptcy part.
posted by electronslave at 5:44 AM on May 20, 2007

Hungry Like Lupin III.
posted by Wolfdog at 7:05 AM on May 20, 2007

Wow. Bruce Campbell needs money bad enough to do Shatner? What did he do with his Spider-man check?

Have you actually seen his filmography? Bruce doesn't discriminate.
posted by [insert clever name here] at 7:31 AM on May 20, 2007

I've liked the man's oeuvre quite a bit since seeing him in Army of Darkness. It was a pleasant surprise to find out he briefly attended my alma mater. I gave serious consideration to gazing at his old dorm room, but decided that would be kinda weird and anti-climatic. Unfortunately, the last 3 youtube videos aren't loading correctly for me. Just the sound.
posted by Green With You at 8:29 AM on May 20, 2007

I bought the autobiography for my boyfriend this past Christmas and ended up reading it myself -- very funny, very well-written and I find myself liking his work much more afterwards.
posted by bitter-girl.com at 8:45 AM on May 20, 2007

I love that man. I just love him to death.

I want to be that man.

I am so not that man. Although we have the same last name. Does that count?
posted by Turtles all the way down at 10:26 AM on May 20, 2007

Always been a big Campbell fan. I even liked Brisco County Jr.
posted by tkchrist at 12:12 PM on May 20, 2007

Brisco rocked. Not enough to be worth the $100 to buy it on DVD, though.

He always brings a smile, and I think better of old spice for putting him in a commercial campaign.
posted by Busithoth at 12:38 PM on May 20, 2007

I ♥ Campbell.
posted by Blazecock Pileon at 1:08 PM on May 20, 2007

After seeing this thread, the Wife found this, which I hadn't seen before and is pretty wonderful.

Ted Raimi rapping is good, the second part with Bruce is even better.
posted by quin at 2:30 PM on May 20, 2007

A great example of reverse acting would be the music video for 'Drop', by The Pharcyde.
posted by HighTechUnderpants at 5:51 PM on May 20, 2007

That was so good.

Did you know that the guy who played Chandler Bling on Friend's real-life father was the original Old Spice dude, with the sack over his shoulder. true.
posted by vronsky at 10:59 PM on May 20, 2007

Seeing him at a reading for 'Chins' was a great experience. He was alternately hilarious, informative, and very humble. He took time out on his huge signing line to congratulate my wife and I on our then-recent marriage.

Sure, he's over the top goofy in this commercial, but if it pays for him to do more projects like Bubba-Ho-Tep I'm all for it!
posted by lumpenprole at 2:01 PM on May 21, 2007

I ♥ Campbell.

Yes, he is awesome and I feel I am a better person for having a signed copy of Chins, but I don't know if I'd pipe Campbell.

The inscription reads "Hey Britain - [Bruce's signature]"
posted by britain at 4:41 AM on May 25, 2007