Heartbreak Hotel (1988)

38% of critics liked it
(13 reviews)
41% of users liked it
(1,482 ratings)

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… More 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 competition, he also lectures Elvis that he has lost touch with his roots and urges him do drop his schmaltzy Las Vegas image. This implausible but entertaining feature was given the go-ahead by the Presley estate and contains none of the legendary excesses that led to the king's death in 1977. ~ Dan Pavlides, Rovi

Rating, Runtime: PG-13, 1 hr. 41 min.
Directed By: Chris Columbus
Genres: Comedy

In Theaters: Sep 30, 1988 Wide
On DVD: Sep 3, 2002

Critic Reviews

Janet Maslin, New York Times
[Columbus] pushes the film's slender premise much too far.
Rita Kempley, Washington Post
Face it. The King has left the building, gone to that Caesars Palace in the sky. Columbus, say goodbye.
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times
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.
Jonathan Rosenbaum, Chicago Reader
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.
Clint Morris, Moviehole
Keith at the top of his game
Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat, Spirituality and Practice
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.
Gerry Shamray, Sun Newspapers of Cleveland
Overlooked comedy gem.

Read all 7 critic reviews

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Featured Audience Ratings

Leo L

I remember this movie!

Cast

            David Keith as Elvis Presley

            Tuesday Weld as Marie Wolfe

            Charlie Schlatter as Johnny Wolfe

            Angela Goethals as Pam Wolfe

            Jacque Lynn Colton as Rosie Pantangellio

            Chris Mulkey as Steve Ayres

            Karen Landry as Irene

            Dana Barron as Beth Devereux

            Michael Costello as Dr. Charles Devereux

            Blue Deckert as Jones

            Noel Derecki as Tony Vandelo

            Clarke P.Devereux as Teacher

            Paul Harkins as Brian Gasternick

            John Hawkes as Talent Show M.C.

            Jerry Haynes as Mr. Hansen

            Dennis Letts as Alan Fortas

            Diane Robin as Donna

            Tudor Sherrard as Paul Quinine

            Monica Devereux as Monica

            John L. Martin as Sheriff Abrams

            Miles Mutchler as Furniture Salesman

            Cheryl Beckham as Nurse

            Graham T. Brown as Jerry Schilling

            Stephen Lee Davis as George Klein

            Al Dvorin as Himself

            Hal Ketchum as Steve's Friend

            Urban Kneupper as Accordian Player

            Debra Luijtjes as Cheryl

            Christine M. Poole as Judy

            Ruth Sadlier as Aunt Anne
See full cast