My review was written in January 1984 after watching the MCA "Video EP" cassette.
"Twist of Fate" is an illustrated short subject which MCA Home Video has just released as a $19.95 "Video EP" featuring four Olivia Newton-John songs from her new 20th-Fox film "Two of a Kind", plus two older cuts. Varying wildly in quality,l opus is unlikely to develop any hit synergy with the motion picture, which has opened to blah biz.
Title segment is the best, capturing the celestial fantasy mood of Emeric Pressburger and Michael Powell's 1946 film "A Matter of Life and Death" far more imaginatively than the vague "Two of a Kind" feature does. Newton-John, dolled up to resemble Deborah Harry, belts the tune situated in a watery black and neon blue heavenly arena, checking out photos which turn into film clips while seemingly being judged by shadowy figures in the balcony. She's joined in this cut and the duet "Take a Chance" (directed by David Mallet) by guest John Travolta, co-star of her film.
Elsewhere, director Brian Grant delivers cornball visual cliches, as in would-be romantic views of Venice for the draggy ballad "Shaking You" or pointless new-wave imagery in "Livin' in Desperate Times". Newton-John's effervescent performing personality comes through best in the finale, "Tied Up", filmed in simulated concert format.
