Operation: Belvis Bash

Given the title I thought this was going to be a straight up parody - and I am actually very happy it wasn't. It's really hard to describe this movie.

Basically it was really funny and well put together. The story was all over the place at times, but I was satisfied with it when it ended.

Corey Feldman was actually really funny. I didn't know what to expect. The Iron Sheik is hilarious too. I liked all the cast - there were no bad actors in the cast.

Lex Lvovsky is good as the Elvis guy, and he did a good job as a writer director. I hope he gets a chance to make more crazy movies like this - it was really very original.

On the war on global terrorism America's most effective weapon, of course, is a C-level rockabilly singer who is a combination of Elvis Presley and Johnny Cash. I know what you're thinking, "ANOTHER one of these movies?"

Zero Dark Dirty is a comedy in the tradition of the "Naked Gun" and "Scary Movie" franchises. It pokes fun at current popular films while framing it in a somewhat absurd storyline. If you are fans of these types of films Zero Dark Dirty is right down your alley.

The main character, Belvis Bash (played admirably by Lex Lvovsky) is a down on his luck musician. When the movie opens he is performing in a nursing home. He gets the opportunity to be a part of the government's Pop Culture Outreach Program and perform for the people of Afghanistan. He agrees and, as they say, hijinx ensue.

I don't want to give too much away but this is a "fish out of water" story with Belvis trying to understand the local culture. There is even the obligatory love interest in the form of May Summer, played by Noel Britton. She got roped into participating by answering an ad for a musical entitled "Les Miserables: Episode One." There are a lot of these types of jokes throughout the movie.

Oh, and did I mention there are cameos by Frank Stallone and Daniel Baldwin? This movie has everything.

The film pokes good-natured fun at Middle Eastern culture as well as American "decadence." No doubt, the usual group of people who get offended by this type of humor will be offended. However, there is nothing mean-spirited about the humor in this film. While some jokes are a bit cringe-worthy it is all done in good fun.

If you are looking for a good laugh and like pop culture references I strongly suggest you take a look at this film.

With a title like it has you might think you know exactly what you're getting into, but I was surprised at what I ended up seeing. Far from a simple spoof, it actually takes (somewhat) seriously the issues of terrorism and foreign occupation. What sets it apart, though, is that it does this while maintaining a level of near-pure goofiness. A movie that has a prominent role for the Iron Sheik isn't taking itself too seriously, and with this movie I think the silliness is it's biggest strength.

Corey Feldman rules in this one. It's a great role and he steals the show in my opinion. From beginning to end he chews up the screen, and the movie is worth watching for his performance alone.

The movie has its issues. Some side stories detract from the main plot and a few gags fall flat. But to me the unique tone, consistent laughs, and Feldman's performance make this one a lot of fun. Recommended.

I bought this film from the cheap shelf at the store, and actually thought I had bought Zero Dark Thirty, surprised that it was so cheap already! Even the cover, not only the title, is very much alike the Academy Award winning picture. And it's not the cover shown her, but one really like Thirty. Retrospectively I could find this title almost pornographic, but it aims at an alternative version of the greatest American achievement in their war history. The title of this review is a connection of to quotes from the film.

But then this is a comedy on a very low budget. I was really fooled. I had never heard about this, but nevertheless had to see it. And, if you wonder, it's quit funny, but could probably use with a sharper manuscript.

The second part of this film is much funnier than the first half, so don't give up. Production value is very good to be such a low budget movie.

Belvis Bash is of course a B-artist, which name is playing on both Elvis Presley and Johnny Cash, but his real name is Walter, is invited, to say it mildly, to Afghanistan to play. Belvis is played by Lex Lvovsky, which is both director and writer of his. Usually no good combination. The actors at doing great, Corey Feldman is a high point acting as a comedian.

The film is playing with prejudice, bad taste, cultural differences and Americanism, and really has it's moments. It's no laugh out loud film. But it's difficult to satisfy audience with this, and making a whole feature instead of some jokes are almost impossible to succeed with.

The funniest part of the movie is a discussion about Islam and Jewism after 45 minutes, which really is good. It's killed off with a ballad which is not meant to be funny. After 58 minutes we have another high point. From there and out the film is way funnier than the start. The "car chase" which camel is fabulous.

This is fa better than the average American comedy.

Zero Dark Dirty is the kind of film that's like biting into a soft-caramel filled chocolate when you were expecting simply chocolate (provided you like caramel, if you don't insert whatever candy-filling is your favorite). It has the feel of a classic Hope & Crosby "Road to..." movie, but several strange, unexpected elements turn it into a unique viewing experience. It's romantic comedy and political satire, action/adventure and rock & roll musical. You wouldn't think any of these would mesh, but they manage to create a lighthearted and, at times, intensely powerful feature. Lex Lvovsky and Noel Britton nail their starring performances among a star-studded, eclectic cast with such faces as Corey Feldman, The Iron Sheik, Mark Metcalf, Frank Stallone, Daniel Baldwin, and Larry Thomas (the Soup Nazi in an emotionally impacting scene). If you like your Johnny Cash laced with a little Elvis and good-old-fashioned American pride, Zero Dark Dirty is the film for you!