Themes: Race Against Time, Otherwise Engaged, Nothing Goes Right
Main Cast: James Caan, Nicolas Cage, Sarah Jessica Parker, Noriyuki "Pat" Morita, Anne Bancroft, Johnny Williams
Release Year: 1992
Country: US
Run Time: 95 minutes
MPAA Rating: PG13
Plot
After making a deathbed promise to his mother that he would never marry, Jack Singer (Nicolas Cage) finds that resolve challenged when his girlfriend, Betsy (Sarah Jessica Parker), begins making noise about wanting to start a family. Worried he might lose her, Jack makes the rash decision that they should fly to Las Vegas that weekend to tie the knot. Feet still cold, Jack spurns Betsy's idea to get married the moment they step off the plane, preferring to procrastinate for a few hours over a game of poker arranged by notorious gambler Tommy Korman (James Caan). Peddling the game as a get-to-know-you thrown by the hotel, Korman steadily raises the stakes on Jack until the novice is in for 65,000 dollars of the house's money on a hand he's sure he'll win -- a straight flush to the jack. When he loses the fixed hand, the flabbergasted Jack has a major problem on his hands. Korman offers an unusual solution: If Betsy, whom Korman spotted in the lobby because of her resemblance to his late wife, will spend the weekend with him, Jack's debt will be forgiven. Betsy initially refuses, considering it a ploy by Jack to postpone the wedding, but soon agrees to fly to Hawaii with Korman, in part because it will teach Jack a lesson. When she finds herself charmed by Korman's smooth and sensitive shtick, her desperate fiancé goes to incredible lengths to win her back, including jumping from a plane with a troop of skydiving Elvises. ~ Derek Armstrong, All Movie Guide
Review
Honeymoon in Vegas is an amiable entry from Nicolas Cage's wacky period, finding him at his most loudly pitched and righteously frustrated, and turning this into effective material for a farce. James Caan spoofs his mob persona and gives real heart to the villain role, so much so that he looks for awhile like he could be the dark horse hero. Sarah Jessica Parker also shines as the object of their tug-o-war, so fixed on the idea of settling down that she even contemplates a proposal by the man she's known for only 48 hours, to whom she has been basically pawned off. Writer/director Andrew Bergman spun a moderate hit from these ingredients, keeping things light as a feather (no serious threats are ever made toward Cage) and the audience forever on the verge of a grin. Those who can't stomach Elvis impersonators will find themselves relentlessly assaulted, however; not only do they figure into the memorable finale and make several other appearances, but the soundtrack is comprised of Presley tunes assayed by modern pop musicians like Billy Joel and Bruce Springsteen. Honeymoon in Vegas has one of the loopiest globe-trotting plots out there -- it might almost be called Honeymoon in Hawaii -- but the brisk pace keeps things fun enough to sidestep serious scrutiny. ~ Derek Armstrong, All Movie Guide
John Capodice - Sally Mollars; Peter Boyle - Chief Orman; Robert Costanzo - Sidney Tomashefsky; Burton Gilliam - Roy; Eddie Bear - Elvis Impersonator; Gary Benson - Elvis Impersonator; Teddy Bergman - David; Brad Blumenthal - Waiter; J.J. Bostick - Valet; David Buccella - Bellhop; Seymour Cassel - Tony Cataracts; Cathy Celario - Croupier; Johnny Cha Cha - Cha Cha; Esmond Chung - Cop; Elvis, Jr. - Elvis Impersonator; Ray Favaro - Clerk; Clearance Giddens - Black Elvis; Gwen Greenhalgh - Cigarette Girl; Captain Haggerty - Businessman; Dean Hallo - Lyle; Jim Hamilton - Minister; Bruno Hernandez - Little Elvis; Brent Hinkley - Vern; David Jenner - Elvis Impersonator; Danny Kamekona - Niko; Koko Kanealii - Cop #2; Lainie Kazan; Robert Kim - Oriental Elvis; E.P. King - Elvis Impersonator; Connie Kissinger - Ticket Agent-Kauai; Johnny Lawson - Elvis Impersonator; Tiiu Leek - Anchorwoman; Joanna Lipari - JFK Agent; Anna Lobell - Airport Passenger; Rick Marino - Elvis Impersonator; John McMahon - Chris; Angela Pietropinto - School Parent; Roddy Ragsdale - Elvis Impersonator; Jay Richardson - Ticket Agent-San Jose; John Sarviss - Helicopter Pilot; Lonnie Schuyler - Pool Guy; Sasha Semenoff - 2nd Waiter; Tony Shalhoub - Buddy Walker; Ernie Shavers - Himself; Sly Smith - Hotel Guard; Ben Stein - Walter; Jerry Tarkanian - Sid Feder; Keone Young - Eddie Wong; George Chung - Elvis Impersonator; Lisa Ann Poggi - Laura; Valorie Massalas; Mike Fenton; Arthur Haggerty; Joshua Nelson - Guy in Little Italy; John Patrick - Poker Instructor
Credit
John Warnke - Art Director, Adam Merims - Associate Producer, Julie Weiss - Costume Designer, Andrew Bergman - Director, Barry Malkin - Editor, Neil Machlis - Executive Producer, David Newman - Composer (Music Score), Steve Maslow - Musical Direction/Supervision, William Elliott - Production Designer, William A. Fraker - Cinematographer, Mike Lobell - Producer, Linda de Scenna - Set Designer, David MacMillan - Sound/Sound Designer, Rick Barker - Stunts, Andrew Bergman - Screenwriter, Al Laverde - Key Grip
Country singers rule this soundtrack of Elvis Presley covers, which is every bit as flawed, frivolous and fun as the film from whence it came. While Billy Joel parodies "All Shook Up" and "Heartbreak Hotel," John Mellencamp labors to avoid parodying "Jailhouse Rock," and U2's Bono transforms "Can't Help Falling in Love" into an obsessive parable about hero worship, folks like Ricky Van Shelton and Trisha Yearwood just sit back and sing the things, which at least makes them pleasant after more than one plaing. Dwight Yoakam's power-chord-country version of "Suspicious Minds" and Travis Tritt's "Burning Love" rank with their best remakes. Breaking the trend are pop crooner Bryan Ferry, who sings a seductive British soul version of "Are You Lonesome Tonight?" and the usually trustworthy Vince Gill, whose Pat Boone-style rendition of Arthur Crudup's classic blues "That's All Right" cleans up the grammar. ~ Brian Mansfield, All Music Guide
Jack Singer (Cage) has sworn to his mother while she was on her deathbed that he would never get married. Years later, he goes back on his promise and proposes to his girlfriend, Betsy (Parker), and quickly arranges a Las Vegas marriage. They check into the Bally's Hotel.
Before the wedding, however, a wealthy professional gambler, Tommy Korman (Caan) sees Betsy and notices a striking resemblance to his beloved late wife. He arranges a crooked poker game where Jack loses $65,000 (with Jerry Tarkanian as one of the other players). Korman promises to erase the debt if he can spend the weekend with Singer's fiancée.
After getting Korman to agree to no sex, the desperate couple agree. Jack tries desperately to get Betsy back and discovers that Korman has taken her to Hawaii, where he has his family and connections. Korman has a friend, Mahi Mahi (Pat Morita), basically keep Jack as far as possible from him and Betsy. Jack discovers this and goes to Korman's house. Korman attacks Jack and has him arrested.
After having Dr. Molar bail him out of jail, Mahi Mahi meets him outside and admits that Korman left with Betsy and is forcing her to marry him. Mahi races Jack to the airport.
Betsy decides she cannot go through with the wedding and escapes from Korman. Meanwhile, after changing many planes and finding himself stuck in San Jose, Jack tries frantically to find a flight to Vegas. Finally he finds a group about to depart for Vegas, but, much to his surprise, finds out mid-flight that they are the Utah chapter of the "Flying Elvises" - a skydiving team of Elvis impersonators. Jack now realizes that he will have to skydive from 3,000 feet in order to get to Betsy. Jack eventually is able to overcome his fear and lands and spots Betsy, which then ruins Korman's plans.
The final scene shows Jack and Betsy getting married in a small Las Vegas chapel with the Flying Elvises as guests, Jack still in his white illuminated jumpsuit and Betsy in her stolen showgirl outfit.
The soundtrack was composed mainly of covers of Elvis Presley songs performed by many contemporary artists. Also included are the ramblings of Chief Orman when Mahi Mahi takes Jack to his Chief's shack instead of Korman's beach side mansion. The score is by David Newman (composer).
