Saturday, October 28, 2017

The Road To Burnin' Love

I have always thought that a good romantic comedy can be fun to watch.  Even though I think that the genre is a dying breed, I still believe that there are a number of gems out there.  Elvis Has Left The Building is a wonderful example of a charming comedy that, unfortunately, probably did not get the attention that it deserved.

Elvis Has Left the Building is the story of a Pink Lady Cosmetics representative who meets an ad agency executive as she is travels across the country accidentally and inexplicably murdering Elvis impersonators.  While this film does not deliver a barrel of laughs, you will be chuckling constantly throughout the film.  The ways each Elvis impersonator is killed are so inventive and funny, and leave you wondering how many creative ways they can pull of the gag.  I also enjoy the two characters who are FBI Agents attempting to crack the case.  The characters are complete opposites, and add to that that one of them is a germaphobe, and this comedy duo almost steal the entire film.  This is such an enjoyable film that has a good story, great acting and solid comedic charm.

Kim Basinger plays Harmony Jones.  Basinger delivers brilliant comedic timing throughout the film, and brings a certain genuineness to her character that adds to the overall film.  She also has good dramatic scenes both with Angie Dickinson and John Corbett.  This is a well-rounded performance that truly showcases how talented Kim Basinger is as an actress.

John Corbett plays Miles Taylor.  Overall, I like Corbetts' performance in this movie.  He displays a certain charm and wit that could make any woman fall in love with him.  However, I do feel that there is a severe lack of development with his character.  It just feels as if he was cast as the typical good looking man who falls for the female character.  We do not even see his character involved with his ad agency much at all.  His motives just seem unclear to me.  Do not misunderstand me, Corbett is solid in the movie, but I just did not care about his character enough.

Joel Zwick is the director of Elvis Has Left The Building.  Ultimately, this movie is about how much Elvis Presley had an impact on Harmony Jones' life and career.  You can feel that impact throughout the film as there are countless Elvis-inspired sets, clothing, vehicles, outfits and memorabilia.  Also, even though this film is a comedy, the dramatic scenes do stand out because they are so good, and Zwick handles them with care.  The chemistry between the actors is solid as well, which is the mark of a good director.  Zwick does a wonderful job directing this film.

Elvis Has Left The Building is such a delightful gem of a comedy, and it is a shame that it got so unrecognized on its initial release.  The acting is great, the sets and atmosphere are wonderful, and the comedy bits will have you smiling throughout the entire film.  If you have not seen Elvis Has Left Building, I highly suggest that you pick it up.  As with all cinematic gems, it may be hard to find, but trust me, it is worth it.

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