David O'ConnellHoneymoon in Vegas (1992)
July 10th 2008 03:30
This still remains a very funny film, an early 90’s Nicolas Cage classic from a time when he had burst on the scene and could do no wrong. It was written and directed by the talented Andrew Bergman who had earlier made the much underrated black comedy The Freshman with Matthew Broderick and Marlon Brando.
Cage is Jack Singer, who has developed a complex about commitment and marriage after promising his mother on her deathbed, played by Anne Bancroft in a funny opening scene, that he would never walk down the aisle. His girlfriend Betsy (Sarah Jessica Parker) does finally convince him to tie the knot in Vegas however, against all his instincts, but before they can do so, Jack “loses” her in a poker game to gangster Tommy Korman (James Caan).
Initially, the arrangement is for Tommy to entertain her for a single weekend as repayment for the loss in their rigged game, but little does Jack know that Tommy has actually become obsessed with keeping Betsy and winning her heart over (with brute force and wealth if need be!), because she just so happens to be a “dead ringer” for his late wife Donna. He does everything in his power to thwart Jack’s attempts to impede the progress of their phony, one-sided romance, including lying to Betsy about the size of the bet which Jack lost in the poker game.
Cage is in his comical, flustered/exasperated mode here, a little crazy at times but hilariously so, and his sometimes futile attempts to track Betsy down are never less than entertaining as he follows the couple from Vegas to Hawaii and back again. It’s a superb, uninhibited screenplay by Bergman with his three main leads obviously having a ball with their loose, carefree characterizations.
There’s a couple of funny cameos, including one from Peter Boyle as a show-tune obsessed Indian, and then there’s the running gag involving a bunch of Elvis impersonators who are skydiving down into the heart of Vegas as the climax of the film approaches. Naturally Jack finds himself becoming an unwitting participant in all this which makes for a rousing finale. But it’s the romantic heart of the film which shines through ultimately, and though somewhat silly, it’s a testament to the strength of the performances and screenplay that it still retains that fresh spark today, 16 years later.
Honeymoon in Vegas is a joy to watch, a true comic gem and one of the best films of its type from the 90’s.
Cage is Jack Singer, who has developed a complex about commitment and marriage after promising his mother on her deathbed, played by Anne Bancroft in a funny opening scene, that he would never walk down the aisle. His girlfriend Betsy (Sarah Jessica Parker) does finally convince him to tie the knot in Vegas however, against all his instincts, but before they can do so, Jack “loses” her in a poker game to gangster Tommy Korman (James Caan).
Initially, the arrangement is for Tommy to entertain her for a single weekend as repayment for the loss in their rigged game, but little does Jack know that Tommy has actually become obsessed with keeping Betsy and winning her heart over (with brute force and wealth if need be!), because she just so happens to be a “dead ringer” for his late wife Donna. He does everything in his power to thwart Jack’s attempts to impede the progress of their phony, one-sided romance, including lying to Betsy about the size of the bet which Jack lost in the poker game.
Cage is in his comical, flustered/exasperated mode here, a little crazy at times but hilariously so, and his sometimes futile attempts to track Betsy down are never less than entertaining as he follows the couple from Vegas to Hawaii and back again. It’s a superb, uninhibited screenplay by Bergman with his three main leads obviously having a ball with their loose, carefree characterizations.
There’s a couple of funny cameos, including one from Peter Boyle as a show-tune obsessed Indian, and then there’s the running gag involving a bunch of Elvis impersonators who are skydiving down into the heart of Vegas as the climax of the film approaches. Naturally Jack finds himself becoming an unwitting participant in all this which makes for a rousing finale. But it’s the romantic heart of the film which shines through ultimately, and though somewhat silly, it’s a testament to the strength of the performances and screenplay that it still retains that fresh spark today, 16 years later.
Honeymoon in Vegas is a joy to watch, a true comic gem and one of the best films of its type from the 90’s.
Old Horse-Face was pretty alluring back in those days - no wonder Tommy fell for her!(;
Hapless romantic Jack Singer - and the Flying Elvises!!
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