Honeymoon in Vegas (feat. Nicolas Cage)

In this 1992 film, Nicolas Cage starts to get really Cagey. He plays a private detective named Jack Singer who, on his mother's death bed, swears never to get married or to love anyone as much as he loves her. Eventually he does agree to get married in Vegas, to his girlfriend Betsy (played by Sarah Jessica Parker). All sorts of strange things can go wrong in Vegas, especially with Jack, who has a personal interest in poker.

I think gambling makes a great story device. It keeps us on the edge and gives us a clear view of stakes and odds. It's cool that this film gives us a view of Las Vegas during the daytime, outside of the packed strip. Sarah Jessica Park made a very loveable girl-next-door. In fact, I wish she'd had more roles like this. James Caan (the dad character in Elf with Will Farrell) plays a great antagonist, one you can sympathize with. Honeymoon in Vegas had all of the makings of a truly great film.

However... it failed me in a lot of ways. Jack does go on a crazy adventure with its pitfalls and glimmers of hope. There are a lot of Elvis Presley impersonators, which is fine. I guess they are a very important part of Las Vegas culture? I don't know. While it's cool to see children and black men impersonating The King. IMH, if you don't think Elvis impersonators are the funniest thing in the world, then you will not think this movie is funny.

James Caan's character is a professional gambler, but I don't think his negative traits stick well. He may be a little scummy, but why? What caused it? He's a family man and his family loves him. What is it that causes him to be so severely scummy for no reason aside from greed and lust? Is that just the Vegas Effect? Cage's character is a private eye but his investigative skills have no impact on the adventure. Shouldn't they?

While Honeymoon in Vegas had all the makings of a truly great film, I think it really failed to deliver. For huge fans, there's a Broadway musical based on the film, also called Honeymoon in Vegas. Tony Danza plays the bad guy. With great luck, I'll see it someday and write a comparison.

1. Raising Arizona
2. City of Angels
3. Gone in Sixty Seconds
4. Matchstick Men
5. Honeymoon in Vegas
6. The Family Man
7. The Weather Man
8. The Croods