See it at the Movies

THE IDENTICAL

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The first reaction to this weird parody of the old ’50s style musicals, a la Elvis Presley, is “Are they kidding?”

If you view the movie completely as a parody, you may get a few tongue-in-cheek laughs. Viewing it as a serious attempt to recreate the genre will produce only moans and boredom.

Blake Rayne plays Ryan, the identical twin of Drexel Hemsley.

We learn at the beginning of the movie, filmed in black and white, that the poor parents of twins gave up one of them to the local preacher (Ray Liotta) and his wife (Ashley Judd).

The twins grew up not knowing each other. One goes on to become a major rock star. The other, an auto mechanic and Drexel Hemsley wannabee.

Poor Ryan is driven by his fundamentalist father to follow in his footsteps and seek his true calling. But Ryan’s calling is to sing like his unbeknownst twin.

He is signed to a major contract and becomes as famous as his brother.

Will the twins ever meet and discover their bond?

Will Ryan’s father get off his back and let him be who he wants to be?

Will that soppy music ever stop playing in the background?

Why doesn’t Ryan realize that the star who looks just like him and sings just like him might be his brother?

The references to the life and movies of Elvis are blatantly strewn throughout the plot, making you think that the writers can’t be serious.

Rated an innocent PG.

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