Rating summary

Movie		4.0
Video		2.0
Audio		2.0
Extras		0.0
Overall		2.0

Heartbreak Hotel Blu-ray Movie Review

Kidnapping The King, stealing the heart.

Reviewed by Martin Liebman January 10, 2015

Heartbreak Hotel seems a somewhat odd title not for a movie about a fictionalized little side journey in Elvis Presley's life but for a film that's actually rather cherry, hopeful, and upbeat, not in some way melancholy or carrying the negative connotation the world "heartbreak" carries into the conversation. Writer/Director Chris Columbus' (Adventures in Babysitting, Home Alone) charming little 1988 nod to both The King and the human spirit reinforces good feelings about the humanity that exists inside everyone, whether a single mother seeking answers, a teenager searching for his place in life, a little girl who is afraid of the dark, or the King of Rock 'N' Roll himself. It's make-believe at just about it's most simple, injecting a recognizable character into a relatable situation and yielding both relatable and predictable results, but the fun and charm comes from the fact that it works so well and leaves a big old grin on the face when the lights go up and Elvis leaves the building.

On stage.

The year is 1972. Marie Wolfe (Tuesday Weld), mother to a teenage son named John (Charlie Schlatter) and an adolescent daughter named Pam (Angela Goethals), has been spending more time with booze and boys, including the creepy Steve (Chris Mulkey), than with her own children. John has taken on the responsibilities of a father figure where none exists, caring for Pam as best he can while working hard in school and trying to make it with his band. One night, his mother is hospitalized after a car accident leaves her battered and bruised, wounded from both the wreck and from Steve's hand. John, in search of a way to cheer his mother upon her return home, hatches a plan to lure Elvis Presley, who just so happens to be on tour in John's hometown of Cleveland, Ohio, back to the house in hopes that he'll show his mother a good time. The plan turns into kidnapping, however, but it doesn't take long before the family takes to Elvis and he to they, but can the fairy tale last forever, or will the King bolt back to his celebrity reality in time for his next show in nearby Pittsburgh?

Heartbreak Hotel is essentially a fantasy come to life in which a knight in shining armor, or in this case a knight in satin shirt and blue suede shoes, comes to the rescue of one nondescript family that needs him more than ever. But it's also the story of the family saving its hero, showing him that he can be understood, appreciated, and loved for more than his voice or his hips. The movie's charm comes in its simplicity, in its full circle story of life being bigger than nothing and smaller than everything. It shows that money, of which The King has enough to send Cadillacs to strangers, isn't everything (who needs money?). It demonstrates how a kind word, a simple gesture of affection and appreciation, and a smile can go a long way in setting things right and renewing one's hope in life, hope that there are better things out there than merely whatever's in the hand one is dealt, be that fame and fortune or fancy dreams amidst the daily grind of disappointment, failure, and fear, all of which plague the members of the Wolfe family before The King sets them straight and they, in turn, set The King back on the path to rediscovering who he is and what the world has to offer beyond the pains of unending praise and the chains of unyielding celebrity.

The picture, then, traverses comfortably familiar territory -- once the plot is put in motion, there's not much of a surprise how it will develop -- that wraps the audience in a warm celluloid blanket with its good cheer and easygoing manners. The film favors a bit more drama and romance than it does humor, but everything's here in a well-arranged concoction of innocent movie magic where a big idea, a bit of strong-arming, and a touch of luck yield a classic happily-ever-after. Columbus frames the movie in what often feels like a hybrid of a dreamlike state and reality, almost never hinting that the movie is anything but the real life and times of The King meets the Wolfe clan even if one cannot help but feel like there's more magic at work than meets the eye. Columbus does smartly open the film with the word "fable" attached to it, essentially reinforcing the fictional flavor but not fully dismissing either elements of reality or others that dabble in movie magic.

All of the parts are played well. David Keith is superb as Elvis, not simply in the necessary physical senses -- the look, the movement, the vocalizations -- but more importantly in capturing an honest heart and shaping a tangibly open and believably wounded soul who finds comfort, solace, and a renewed faith in life through his times with the Wolfe family. Tuesday Weld sparkles as the starstruck love interest, and Charlie Schlatter impresses as a hard-pressed teenager who is a de facto father to his younger sister, the man of the house, so-to-speak, but finding it difficult, if not impossible, to mature into a man in the eyes of anyone other than himself out in the real world. Enter Elvis, then, who doesn't so much show him the ropes but tells him how to maneuver through them, to live as he must but also as well as he can and as far as his talents will allow.

Heartbreak Hotel Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Heartbreak Hotel checks into Blu-ray with a bummer of a 1080p transfer. Viewers are greeted to a screenful of wobbly text from the outset. From there, things hardly improve. While there are instances where the image appears healthy and vibrant -- an outdoor scene early in the film in which John convinces his friends to kidnap Elvis shows borderline terrific clothing detail and solid colors -- the picture quality is generally flat and uninspired. Details are frequently lacking, leaving skin pasty and clothes dull. Colors, too, appear drained and tired, though flesh tones often push towards a slight rosiness. Black levels are likewise pale and fatigued. The image features an extra-sharp grain structure and features plenty of nicks and pops throughout. Overall, this is a rather poor high definition release but not an unexpected effort given the bargain release price and the studio's checkered history.

Heartbreak Hotel Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

Heartbreak Hotel limps onto Blu-ray with a flat and uneventful Dolby Digital 2.0 soundtrack, a shame considering all the sonic energy and goodness in the movie. While much of the film is talk-heavy, there's plenty of music, whether Johnny and his band in the garage, Elvis on stage, or The King dancing to the jukebox in a diner. None of it plays richly or realistically, cramped, instead, in the center with no tangible range or distinguished clarity in either instruments or vocals. Likewise, crowd noise at the Elvis concert is left in a state of sonic minimalism, failing to immerse the listener in the rowdy arena confines. Ambient effects are virtually nonexistent, and some heavier sound effects, like a rumbly motorcycle engine, lack precision authenticity. Fortunately, dialogue does come through with suitable clarity and good, natural center balance.

Heartbreak Hotel Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

Heartbreak Hotel's Blu-ray release contains no supplements.

Heartbreak Hotel Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Heartbreak Hotel is a fun, simple little slice of fantasy entertainment that not only rewrites a few days of The King's life but also pens a happily-ever-after story about how life has a way of sorting things out in the most unusual and unexpected of ways. For one family struggling to get by, it was Elvis who shined brightest in its time of need. For Elvis, it was one family that accepted him for who he was below the public persona, that guided him out of a funk of celebrity haze, and helped him reconnect with his roots. This is a great little movie that does what good movies should do, and that's leave the viewer with a smile and a spring in the step. Mill Creek's Blu-ray release of Heartbreak Hotel features bland video and audio. No extras are included. Recommended on the strength of the film and the bargain-basement sale price.