‘The Identical’ bears an uncanny resemblance to really bad movies: 1 star

Elvis Presley had a twin who died at birth. But what if that child lived, was secretly given up for adoption and raised as an unknown with equal musical talent of his own?

A movie premise just kooky enough to work? Not even close.

“The Identical” is an earnest effort boasting some talented supporting actors and respectable production values, yet it is so misguided that it bombs in jaw-dropping ways. It might join “Xanadu” and “Cool as Ice” in the campy pantheon of all-time worst musical mishaps.

Flashbacks reveal a Depression-era couple who can’t afford to raise infant twin boys, so they relinquish one to childless evangelist Reece (Ray Liotta) and his wife, Louise (Ashley Judd).

Soft-spoken Ryan (played by Blake Rayne, the stage name of former Elvis impersonator Ryan Pelton) was brought up to be a man of the cloth, but he gets drawn to the juke joint sounds of the early 1950s. He becomes “a preacher’s boy bringing the devil’s music” in relevant obscurity.

Meanwhile, his twin emerges as renowned singer Drexel “The Dream” Hemsley (also played by Rayne). Ryan can’t help but notice his uncanny resemblance to this king of rock ’n’ roll — nor can a pompadoured agent (Waylon Payne) who begins booking him as a Dream tribute act.

Rookie director Dustin Marcellino and writer Howard Klausner (“Space Cowboys”) further muddy the reality waters by having a character mention Elvis Presley as if he’s another contemporary artist, rather than the obvious proxy depicted onscreen. It appears interjected so the filmmakers won’t get sued by the Presley estate.

Musically, the film covers the same time frame as Elvis’ career, the 1950s to the ’70s. But these forgettable original songs (co-written by the director’s father, Yochanan, and grandfather, Jerry) reek with an overproduced ’80s sheen. The tunes sound dated instead of retro. Everything about the music feels unnatural. Live performances set in a cramped speakeasy sound as if recorded in a studio the size of a Super Target.

Rayne looks convincing during these scenes — like a taller Elvis circa his 1968 TV comeback special. He’s just too flat as a screen presence. There’s no danger. No carnal quality. No inescapable mojo to make viewers believe he might develop into a worldwide sensation.

Although “The Identical” is generally dull and meandering, one sequence is downright bizarre. Reece unleashes a passionate sermon about the 1967 Six- Day War between Israel and its neighbors. Newsreel footage of troops and fighter planes punctuates the speech. Up until this point, the movie doesn’t incorporate a single “real” historical reference — everything is presented as a fable. More importantly, this jarring scene has nothing to do with the plot.

At least the film’s preachiness is delivered by a preacher.

Like “When the Game Stands Tall,” another current PG-rated release, “The Identical” is being marketed as a “faith-based movie.” Although “The Game” isn’t particularly rousing, it delivers a clear message about how adversity is much more character-defining than success.

No idea what the message of “The Identical” is supposed to be. Don’t know what Ryan learns personally or professionally from his experience. Or what his dad learns. His wife. His birth parents. His friends. The music industry. Etc. This is one morally vague and unaccountable flick.

Is the entire project merely an excuse to sneak in a lecture about supporting Israel? If that’s the case, the filmmakers should have simply made a movie about that subject. But with less music.

This story was originally published September 4, 2014 at 8:00 AM with the headline "‘The Identical’ bears an uncanny resemblance to really bad movies: 1 star."