Over the course of his 45-year career, Bruce Campbell has become one of the most recognizable faces in genre entertainment, appearing in films ranging from The Evil Dead and Army of Darkness to Bubba Ho-Tep and My Name Is Bruce. While he has occasionally ventured outside the genre with appearances in films such as The Hudsucker Proxy, The Majestic, Serving Sara, and The Color of Time, his latest film, Ernie & Emma, represents a significant departure for the actor in more ways than one.
Written, directed by, and starring Campbell, Ernie & Emma follows a widowed pear salesman who embarks on a road trip to scatter his late wife’s ashes at locations she specifically requested. Along the way, each destination stirs memories of their life together, forcing Ernie to reflect on his marriage, his career, and what the future might hold without the woman who shared his life.
Despite an extensive list of directing credits that includes episodes of Hercules: The Legendary Journeys and Xena: Warrior Princess, as well as the horror comedy My Name Is Bruce, Ernie & Emma marks just the second feature film Campbell has written, directed, and starred in, following the 2005 science-fiction comedy Man with the Screaming Brain.
The result is a sweet, endearing film that strikes an effective balance between comedy and sentiment without becoming overly sentimental. Campbell brings an understated warmth to Ernie, delivering a performance that allows him to demonstrate a different side of his acting abilities. It’s particularly impressive considering that much of his screen time is spent acting opposite an urn containing his late wife’s ashes. Nevertheless, Campbell manages to make these largely one-sided interactions feel surprisingly natural and, at times, genuinely touching.
There are also moments of broad, physical comedy scattered throughout the film, which should come as little surprise given Campbell’s well-documented affection for the Three Stooges. These lighter moments provide some welcome levity without undermining the film’s more heartfelt scenes. The supporting cast, composed largely of actors from the Portland, Oregon, area, is also quite strong, helping to give Ernie’s encounters along the way a sense of warmth and authenticity.
If there’s one criticism to be made, it’s that Ernie & Emma lacks any substantial conflict. The film moves along at a leisurely pace, making for an easygoing and enjoyable watch, but it could have benefited from a few more obstacles for Ernie to overcome beyond his struggle to move forward with his life. As a result, the story occasionally feels a little too comfortable for its own good.
Still, Ernie & Emma is a thoroughly charming film and a genuine triumph for Campbell, both in front of and behind the camera. Unfortunately, we likely won’t be seeing too many more projects from Campbell. That said, it’s encouraging to see him explore this kind of character-driven storytelling. If this is the direction he’s taking his career, I’m certainly looking forward to seeing what he does next.
You can read or watch our interview with Bruce Campbell discussing Ernie & Emma HERE.
Quick Scan
“Ernie & Emma” is thoroughly charming film and a genuine triumph for writer, director and star Bruce Campbell.