Demian Lichtenstein's 3000 MILES TO GRACELAND isn't the movie that you've
seen in the trailers, which is a shame. That movie looked like a lot of
fun. Spoofing a bunch of Elvis impersonators out to make a killing
(literally) with a high tech casino robbery in Vegas during Elvis week, it
is energetic and original. We know this because the first 20 minutes or so
follow this outline. But after that, in a hail of thousands and thousands
of bullets, the picture turns into another gorefest that would be an NC-17
candidate if the MPAA hadn't long ago fallen asleep at the wheel. (Even
HANNIBAL is rated R. Right!)
Our Elvis look-alike crooks include Murphy (Kevin Costner), Michael (Kurt
Russell), Hanson (Christian Slater) and Gus (David Arquette). After a
promising beginning, the guys shed their costumes and the movie turns into a
bad spaghetti Western -- one too cheesy for Clint to have anything to do
with.
Joining Michael for the ride is Courteney Cox, as "Cybil with a 'C'," and
her thieving 10-year-old son, Jesse (David Kaye), as in Jesse James. Get
it? Well enjoy it, since that's about as funny as 3000 MILES TO GRACELAND
ever gets.
The busy script by Richard Recco and Demian Lichtenstein has more holes than
the proverbial Swiss cheese. The script attempts to fill all of the holes
with lots of shoot-'em-ups. And, when he can't think of anything else to
do, which is often, the director points the camera at the clouds, which the
editor speeds up. Cars, especially Michael's fire-engine red, 1959 Coupe De
Ville, are shown flying down the highway with the hyperdrive engaged. Don't
knock it. It keeps you awake. Barely.
Among the Hollywood actors to drop by for parts is Jon Lovitz -- you know,
the guy who invented the Yellow Pages. "It's a joke," his character tells
Murphy after one of his failed attempts at humor. You'll need to be
reminded of that often in this comedy, which is as flat as the Nevada desert
where it is set. Take my advice and don't stay to watch the music video
during the closing credits. It will make you sad for it shows what the
disappointing 3000 MILES TO GRACELAND could have been -- irreverently funny
rather than mean-spiritedly tedious.
3000 MILES TO GRACELAND runs 2:00. It is rated R for strong violence,
sexuality and language and would be acceptable for high school seniors and
older.
Copyright © 2001 Steve Rhodes
out of 4
