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Heartbreak Hotel (1988)

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All Critics
Top Critics

Average Rating: 4.4/10
Reviews Counted: 13
Fresh: 5 | Rotten: 8

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Average Rating: N/A
Critic Reviews: 4
Fresh: 0 | Rotten: 4

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Average Rating: 2.9/5
User Ratings: 1,475

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Movie Info

Johnny Wolfe (Charlie Schlatter) is an Ohio teen whose alcoholic mother Marie (Tuesday Weld) has been a huge Elvis Presley fan since the 1950s. To cheer her up on her birthday, Johnny kidnaps the king of rock & roll (David Keith) after a 1972 concert. Elvis settles in to the Wolfe's den by decorating the house to his flamboyant tastes and helping Marie and her daughter Pam (Angela Goethals) through some difficult times. After Johnny convinces Elvis to perform with him at a high-school talent

PG-13, 1 hr. 41 min.

Comedy

Directed By: Chris Columbus

In Theaters: Sep 30, 1988 Wide

On DVD: Sep 3, 2002

Cast

David Keith
Elvis Presley
Tuesday Weld
Marie Wolfe
Charlie Schlatter
Johnny Wolfe
Angela Goethals
Pam Wolfe
Jacque Lynn Colton
Rosie Pantangellio
Chris Mulkey
Steve Ayres
Karen Landry
Irene
Dana Barron
Beth Devereux
Michael Costello
Dr. Charles Devereux
Blue Deckert
Jones
Noel Derecki
Tony Vandelo
Clarke P.Devereux
Teacher
Paul Harkins
Brian Gasternick
John Hawkes
Talent Show M.C.
Jerry Haynes
Mr. Hansen
Dennis Letts
Alan Fortas
Diane Robin
Donna
Tudor Sherrard
Paul Quinine
Monica Devereux
Monica
John L. Martin
Sheriff Abrams
Miles Mutchler
Furniture Salesman
Cheryl Beckham
Nurse
Graham T. Brown
Jerry Schilling
Stephen Lee Davis
George Klein
Al Dvorin
Himself
Hal Ketchum
Steve's Friend
Urban Kneupper
Accordian Player
Debra Luijtjes
Cheryl
Christine M. Poole
Judy
Ruth Sadlier
Aunt Anne

Critic Reviews for Heartbreak Hotel

All Critics (13) | Top Critics (4) | Fresh (5) | Rotten (8)

[Columbus] pushes the film's slender premise much too far.

May 20, 2003 Full Review Source: New York Times

| Comment

Janet Maslin

New York Times

Top Critic

Face it. The King has left the building, gone to that Caesars Palace in the sky. Columbus, say goodbye.

January 1, 2000 Full Review Source: Washington Post

| Comment

Rita Kempley

Washington Post

Top Critic

Here it is, the goofiest movie of the year, a movie so bad in so many different and endearing ways that I'm damned if I don't feel genuine affection for it.

January 1, 2000 Full Review Source: Chicago Sun-Times

| Comment

Roger Ebert

Chicago Sun-Times

Top Critic

One would like to think that Tuesday Weld was in on the absurdity of this enterprise, but this one treats it all straight, with a solemnity that may have you rolling in the aisles.

January 1, 2000 Full Review Source: Chicago Reader

| Comment

Jonathan Rosenbaum

Chicago Reader

Top Critic

Keith at the top of his game

April 25, 2005 Comment

Clint Morris

Moviehole

It must have looked good on paper, but this film written and directed by Christopher Columbus comes across as silly and insubstantial on the screen.

August 27, 2004 Full Review | Comment

Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat

Spirituality and Practice

Overlooked comedy gem.

February 6, 2003 Comment

Gerry Shamray

Sun Newspapers of Cleveland

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Audience Reviews for Heartbreak Hotel

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I remember this movie!

November 30, 2007

Leo L

Super Reviewer

The guy that played the title role (Charlie Schlatter) had to have cue cards for the lyrics of the Elvis songs used in the movie. What the Hell!!!!!!!

June 21, 2007