Make Love the Bruce Campbell Way (Hardcover)

~ (Author) "I read the e-mail out loud and wrinkled my nose when I got to the "another book of this type" part..." (more)
Key Phrases: Bruce Campbell, Mike Nichols, Let's Make Love (more...)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Satire and sharp one-liners are the engines powering low-budget movie hero Campbell's (If Chins Could Kill) first autobiographical novel, a funny, breezy, high-camp affair. After dispensing B-movie witticisms on romance and navigating love scenes, Sci-Fi channel schlock film actor "Bruce Campbell" is unexpectedly offered the A-list role of a "wise-cracking doorman" and "emotional lynchpin" in the new Mike Nichols romantic comedy Let's Make Love, starring Richard Gere and Renee Zellweger. After getting fully immersed in calamitous role research at the Waldorf-Astoria, Campbell postures (and annoys) his way through the first read-through with indifferent cast members, runs lines with a timid Gere, crassly advises Zellweger on how to accentuate her bust line, dishes ex-husbands with Liz Taylor and berates the film's director of photography, Oscar-winning Vilmos Zsigmond (whose name Campbell spells Sigmund). After a Secret Service ambush and more movie set mayhem, Campbell's A-List luck finally runs out. But not even a bumbling S.W.A.T. team can stop this determined day player from getting his due. Campbell knows of what he writes, and this endless barrage of extreme silliness obviously spoofs (and quite possibly mirrors) a frenzied acting career made up of equal parts exasperation and hilarity.
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Product Description

Written with the same immense energy, wry humor and Hollywood skewering that filled the bestsellingIf Chins Could Kill, our hero gives his fans a follow-up they could not have expected-a laughout-loud novel starring (who else?) Bruce Campbell I n this autobiographical novel, the King of 'B' movie actors gives his legions of fans the inside view of his hilarious attempt to become an 'A' list actor-taking readers on a wild ride to nail the dream role. In this side-splitting send-up, Bruce imagines that he is cast in the big-budget film 'Let's Make Love,'where he plays a relationship guru/doorman opposite Richard Gere and Renee Zellwegger. Nervous that the star-studded cast will discover he's a grade below, Bruce embarks on a crash-course in method acting, regaling readers with stories of his exploits-including taking jobs as a wedding planner, private investigator, and Waldorf Astoria doorman. Along the way, he throws off tidbits of advice that his fans will find entertaining-but better not follow unless they want to stay single.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 320 pages
• Publisher: Thomas Dunne Books; 1st edition (May 26, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0312312601
• ISBN-13: 978-0312312602
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 6.3 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (74 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #330,280 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

56 of 58 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Not brilliant, but a lot of fun, August 9, 2005

By	Blake Petit "Novelist, Comixtreme.com columni... (Ama, Louisiana United States) - See all my reviews (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

Actor Bruce Campbell decided to try his hand at fiction for his second book, but even then, he couldn't help from letting the "real world" (such as it is) intrude. The book is about Campbell, himself, getting cast in a major role (the kind that gets "best supporting actor" Oscars) in a new Richard Gere/Renee Zellweger romantic comedy. But Campbell's B-movie roots pervade and begin to "infect" the set... but is it really his fault?

This is a weird little book. Most of the story concerns Campbell travelling the country, meeting with one bizarre "expert" after another to research his role as Foyl, the all-knowing relationship guru doorman. As the book progresses, though, a clear villain emerges and Campbell finds himself -- again -- battling the forces of evil. The only real problem with the book is that the villain's motivation, and the major conflict, are introduced rather late in the story, along with a couple of fairly important characters who should have been brought in earlier.

However, as complaints go, that's not a big one. The book isn't intended to be a literary masterpiece -- it's a fun little satire that pokes fun at the Hollywood system from someone who's a small fish in that pond, but a big fish in the outside world of cult cinema. Campbell is a clever, witty guy and he turns out a clever, witty book, and that's what I really wanted out of this.

33 of 35 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I would expect this book from Campbell, January 3, 2006

By	Michael Bond (Shawnee, OK United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Bruce Campbell is the kind of guy you either love or hate, so I won't waste your time. If you already hate him, avoid this book like a B-Movie plague, for the book is cut from the same material.

(pause)

OK. Now that we have lost the anti-Campbell faction let's take a look at "Make Love* the Bruce Campbell way". This novel is a hoot. It is totally silly. From the cover, one should understand that the entire book is tongue-in-cheek. In it we see Bruce preparing for and acting in a movie flop called "Let's Make Love!" In the process, he joins a Southern Gentlemen's Club, fights (and looses) a duel, teaches Richard Gere how to pick up women, and while disguised as someone else, agrees to produce a movie with Jack Nicholson. There is mystery and plenty of action toward the end with a rather surprising ending.

He flashes back on his incredible body of work, especially the Army of Darkness and Evil Dead movies. Bruce is self-deprecating and seems to welcome and enjoy his role in life as a successful "B" movie star. The book is funny, light and witty. It has plenty of illustrations and photos.

It is the kind of book one would expect from Bruce Campbell.

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great fun, just don't call him Ash!!!, May 30, 2005

By	Justin Addison "Justin Addison" (Fayette, MO USA) - See all my reviews

This is a great new book from Bruce "Don't Call Me Ash" Campbell, star of the Evil Dead films. This is quite different from his first title, "If Chins Could Kill, Confessions of a 'B' Movie Actor." Campbell's great sense of humor lifts this title above the average Hollywood trash. Plus, he played Ash, so ya gota love him.
While "Chins" was autobiographical, "Make Love" picks up where his first tome left off - present, day real life. "Make Love" starts in real life, but quickly takes a hilarious, fictional detour through the life of an "A" movie actor. It reads very much like the first book. It is in the first person, but nothing in MLTBCW actually happened. Bruce gets a part in a move with Richard (A**BAG) Gere and Rene Zellweger (sp?). He makes all sorts of very funny faux pas while researching the role (including an old-fashioned southern duel of all things). All the great comedy is there, and Campbell flashes back to many of his other films and TV shows, all within a fictional context.
A must read for any BC fan, especially if you liked "Chins." Campbell's Hollywood insight and humorous situations (and funny photos and graphics) make this a page-turner from start to finish.