Frisbee! Hacky sack! Sarcophagi! All abound the college campus in The University of Illinois vs a Mummy.
Yes, this is an actual feature.
No, it can’t live up to that incredible title.
But by no means is Chris Lukeman’s shot-on-video flick a case of false advertising. A nerd named Casey (Paul Karpenko) leads a small group of fellow first-year Fighting Illini through the halls of the natural history building to locate the 75-year-old mummy murdering undergrads. Its killer bandages shoot out in all directions — a nifty cheap effect — and no student appears safe. The mummy’s name is Ted.
Heavy in puns and slapstick, Illinois vs a Mummy reminded me a little of Zucker/Abrahams/Zucker’s solo-effort spoofs and a lot of Ray Dennis Steckler‘s misadventures with The Lemon Grove Kids, but using possibly less money. I don’t know whether the movie was made for a grade or just for fun; either way, Lukeman succeeded, even if most of the ingenuity comes front-loaded.
It’s never better than an early scene that gives new meaning to “freshman musical”: an all-out song-and-dance number that’s massively impressive in tune, delivery, choreography and sheer scope. Later, his editing skills are showcased in a video game-inspired fight sequence.
No doubt The University of Illinois vs a Mummy is best enjoyed by the school’s alum, but enough pieces are relatable for any one-time undergrad, what with the awkward first dates, parking tickets, crappy roommates, football rivalries and Egyptian slaughter. —Rod Lott