Elvis Has Left the Building (2004)

User Rating:

5.3/10   

Director:

Joel Zwick

Writers:

Mitchell Ganem (written by)
Adam-Michael Garber (written by)

Release Date:

27 August 2004 (UK)

Genre:

Comedy | Crime | Romance

Plot:

A fugitive Pink Lady rep hooks up with a bored ad exec as she's trying to avoid going down for the murder of several Elvis impersonators.

Plot Keywords:

Elvis Presley | Elvis Impersonator | Accidental Death | Gay Stereotype | Character Name In Title

Cast

Kim Basinger	...	Harmony Jones
John Corbett	...	Miles Taylor
Annie Potts	...	Shirl
Sean Astin	...	Aaron
Mike Starr	...	Sal
Phill Lewis	...	Charlie
Denise Richards	...	Belinda
Philip Charles MacKenzie	...	Darren Swirl
Richard Kind	...	Burning Elvis
David Leisure	...	Hole-in-the-Head Elvis
Tom Hanks	...	Mailbox Elvis
Joel Zwick	...	Squashed Elvis
Angie Dickinson	...	Bobette
Pat Morita	...	Man in Turban
Gil McKinney	...	Young Elvis

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for sexual references/humor.

Runtime:

90 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (FotoKem)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Singapore:PG | Philippines:G | UK:12 | Australia:M | USA:PG-13 (certificate #40952) | Iceland:L | Argentina:13 | Spain:13 | Canada:PG (Ontario) | Portugal:M/12 | Finland:K-11 | USA:PG-13 | Germany:6

Filming Locations:

Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA

Company:

Capitol Films

Trivia:

John Corbett made sure Heineken had paid for product placement before he would drink one on camera. The producers insisted they had been paid and then Corbett insisted he should get paid also. The producers agreed and Corbett drank joyfully from the apple juice-filled familiar green bottle.

Goofs:

Anachronisms: (At 19.00) In one of Harmony's 1950s flashbacks her mother has an Elvis song for every car problem. "Always On My Mind" is said to represent 'a flat tire'. The song was actually written in the 1970s and recorded by Elvis in 1972.

Soundtrack:

Hard Headed Woman

YOU might want to leave the building......

My main comment on this movie is how Zwick was able to get credible actors to work on this movie? Impressive cast – even for the supporting characters, none of which helps this movie really. I have to admit though, Tom Hank's cameo almost made it worth it – what was that about Tom? Did you lose a bet? The best cameo of the movie was Joe Isuzu though - by far a classic! The premise is good. Basinger's character, struggling with existence as a Pink Lady, is making her way toward Vegas motel by motel pitching the glorious pyramid of cosmetic sales. This happens as Corbett's character is on his way to Vegas to deliver an Elvis suit to his soon to be ex-wife motivated by….what else….extortion. As they both make their way, they have numerous run-ins with Elvis impersonators who on their way to an Elvis impersonating convention in Vegas. Soon, the FBI gets involved and begins to track what they think is an Elvis impersonator serial killer. Unfortunately, premise doesn't mean the movie was good.

When watching this movie, imagine you are back in the first grade – when story lines and continuity aren't really important. It is much more enjoyable to just watch Basinger look beautiful in her Pink Lady outfit rather than wondering why what she is doing doesn't really make sense. The movie tries hard, but ultimately falls way way way short. Ultimately, it is filled with ideas that could have theoretically been funny but in practice were not that funny.

It isn't the worst, but you may find you yourself feel like leaving the building when watching this one…… Don't say I didn't warn you!