Byron Gruman (Johnathon Schaech) and his 59 Cadillac convertible picks up hitchhiker Elvis (Harvey Keitel) who is looking to go to Graceland. Byron is still suffering from his wife (Gretchen Mol)'s death. Elvis is penniless, unrelentingly delusional, and completely magnetic to the other people. They don't get along but eventually he wins over even Byron. On the way, they encounter Marilyn Monroe impersonator Ashley (Bridget Fonda).
There are so many problems with this movie. Harvey Keitel gives a fascinating performance. However I just don't understand why Byron didn't throw Elvis out of the car after the diner. Byron is so angry and bitter that it's unreasonable that he would suffer through Elvis' antics. Elvis has to give a reason to the audience for Byron to keep him around.
Again Harvey Keitel is a superior actor. Johnathon Schaech does his best, but the duo have no chemistry due mostly to their characters. The first third of the movie just grinds along slowly. When Bridget Fonda comes in, at least there's a change in chemistry. Her impersonation of Marilyn is laughable, but she does well otherwise. The movie gets better in the last act. Keitel has some good scenes. It's compelling. But it comes too little too late.
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