The weekend after Labor Day is traditionally THE worst period for moviegoing of the entire year…
Why?
Simple, the mindset just isn’t there. The public is sidetracked by other weekend activities like Friday night high school football. Saturday college games. Sunday’s NFL start—and other fall like activities.
All that changes by mid-September when the fall movie season kicks in.
Of course the major film companies are painfully aware of this annual low gross phenomenon when the bottom drops out of the box office and respond by not releasing anything new of value.
And this year’s first post-summer weekend is no different.
About the only new title in wide release is THE IDENTICAL. Not that this faith-based little picture is bad—it’s not. But it sure doesn’t break any new ground or, in my opinion, offer enough incentive to plunk down 10 bucks at the box office.
THE IDENTICAL is NOT a true story.
Instead it tells a tale of what (maybe) COULD have been.
The initial setting is the Deep South during the Great Depression where a financially strapped young couple is completely unprepared for the arrival of their identical twin baby boys Drexel and Ryan.
What to do?
Well there’s this revival meeting hosted by preacher Ray Liotta who, along with his wife Ashley Judd, can’t seem to bear children.
Do you foresee a solution here?
That’s right, the young couple offers one of the twins for the preacher couple to raise.
Fast forward now to the 1950’s where Drexel has become a wildly successful rock star. As for Ryan? He’s also showing musical talents and now defies his father’s wishes to follow him into the ministry in favor of the world of rock ‘n roll—doing gigs at fairs and roadhouses.
To play both Elvis-like adult identical twin parts, the filmmakers wisely cast newcomer Blake Rayne.
Not only could Rayne’s looks pass for a Presley family member, his sound and style sure fit that of The King. (He’s called ‘The Dream’ in the movie.)
Oh, and Dreamland is substituted for Graceland here.
It’s a rockabilly mixed with rhythm and blues tale of what could have and might have been—and, of course, redemption.
If all that sounds a little cheesy, it is. Then again, I didn’t really expect much for this first weekend after Labor Day—so I wasn’t disappointed.
THE IDENTICAL, also featuring Seth Green as backup drummer, beats to a score of C.
(Reviewed at AMC Town Center, Leawood)
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The new faith based Elvis has left the building. Thank you and good night.