Heartbreak Hotel

Good acting. Suspend belief, and enjoy an original story of the King being kidnapped for a teen's mother who is down in the dumps in a small Ohio town though who wouldn't be in a small Ohio town. 1988 movie. Big question is where is the lovely mid fiftyish Tuesday Weld now?

This movie is much better than people seem to think. It's not just fun family entertainment, it really shows Elvis trying to come to terms with what went right and wrong with his life. It goes from a spooky, spiritual opening, where Elvis acknowledges his own mortality in song ("So hush little baby, don't you cry/You know your daddy's bound to die")to a rousing "If I Can Dream" finale. The idea is that Elvis gets everything right here that he got so tragically wrong in real time. He is the perfect father, husband, and artist, and he stands up for what we believe in, instead of just wasting himself. Touching and inspiring film.

What keeps the movie from going soft is the fact that the young rock and roller played by Charlie Schlatter (whatever happened to him?) is initially quite contemptuous of Elvis and his Las Vegas style lounge act. The kid chews Elvis out in a very memorable scene that really represents the feelings of millions of young 70's teens about the way Elvis went soft. The fact that Elvis listens and learns is extremely inspiring, but again, the film stays honest. At the end he tells the family, "I've found something here, and I'm afraid if I leave it will slip away again."

Sadly, it did.

I think HEARTBREAK HOTEL was a great movie. Maybe David Keith doesn't look much like the real Elvis Presley but he is a pretty good Elvis imitator. Ronnie McDowell sang most of the Elvis song. Besides a few which Elvis Presley sang. They have a song by Dobie Gray in it too. David Keith, Tuesday Weld, and Charlie Schlatter work great together. Heartbreak Hotel is about a single mother of 2 named Marie who is very depressed (Tuesday Weld). So her 17 year old son Johnny (Charlie Schlatter) kidnaps Elvis Presley for her. By dressing the locale pizza place owner Rosie as Gladys Presley. Elvis (David Keith) and "Johnny" get off to a bad start. You would to with the guy who just kidnapped you. But at the end they're great friends.

This is pure fantasy. As an Elvis fan it made me think what if Elvis had been confronted with his past towards the end of his life? The end of the film I found to be sad as we all know what happened to him and wished it were otherwise. The music is very good, as are the performances. This is in my top 30.

Don't get me wrong. I do like most of Chris Columbus' other projects. I do like David Keith, but he gives one of the worse portrayals of Elvis I have ever seen. This time flattery is not complimentary. It bothers me to see Elvis portrayed with a chip on his shoulder and with such an angry attitude.

This was meant to be a fantasy/comedy, but I feel it sure misses the mark. Outlandish story of a teenage boy gathering a few of his buddies and kidnapping Elvis after a concert in Ohio. The King of Rock 'n' Roll is persuaded to 'hideout' at the home of the boy as a surprise for his depressed mother, an avid Elvis fan.

I thought this was a cute movie the first time I saw it. Upon viewing a couple of more times, I find it less attractive. For the pure Presley fans out there, this is like watching an outbreak of the plague. The ending tries to leave you with a peaceful and proud feeling, but the damage had already been done.

One time Elvis co-star in WILD IN THE COUNTRY , Tuesday Weld plays the bewildered fanatic. Charlie Schlatter plays the wise ass kidnapper.

If you are an Elvis fan and haven't already seen this; don't waste your time.