Character actor Duane Whitaker scripted this little film, based on his stage play. It's a sensitively handled character study, and combination of comedy and drama, focusing on that fickle little thing called fame. It's also about one broken mans' attempt to make meaning of his life and struggle to hold on to his self-respect. Whitaker plays the title person, a former Elvis impersonator who lands a gig at a decidedly minor venue. However, an agent (Clu Gulager) will be in attendance, and this could mean Eddies' ticket back into the big time.
Director Jeff Burr is better known, at least among genre fans, for his horror sequels ("Pumpkinhead II", "Stepfather 2", "Texas Chainsaw Massacre III", etc.), but he's never quite gotten enough credit for "Eddie Presley". It's a shame it's not better known. Certainly, you'd think that the cast assembled here would qualify the picture for a major cult following. And everybody here does a fine job, including Willard E. Pugh and Ted Raimi as Eddies' loyal friends, and Harri James (a veteran script supervisor and sometime actress) as his awkward admirer. The brief appearances by Tim Thomerson and Lawrence Tierney are very funny. Gulager is amusing as the smarmy agent; he wears a wig that looks hilariously preposterous.
Ultimately, this movie belongs to the under-rated Whitaker, who reacts in an understandable way to a setback at his concert. He doesn't exactly handle the situation with grace, but when he pours out his heart and soul to a largely indifferent audience, it's hard not to feel some sympathy for this guy. You definitely cannot deny his passion and commitment to the music of The King. If the character weren't sympathetic, this kind of turn in the story wouldn't work so well, but Whitaker makes him a vivid, flawed, flesh-and-blood human being, one that the viewer will remember after the closing credits finish. His tribute song "That's What the King Means to Me" is quite touching.
If you're curious about the "special guest star" appearances by Quentin Tarantino and Bruce Campbell (who play asylum attendants), be advised that you have to pay attention; you could easily miss them.
Seven out of 10.
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