Honeymoon in Vegas

An engaging (if overlong) romantic comedy, Honeymoon in Vegas follows Nicolas Cage’s Jack Singer as he finally works up the nerve to propose to his longtime girlfriend, Betsy (Sarah Jessica Parker) – with the couple’s decision to elope in Las Vegas paving the way for a smooth gambler (James Caan’s Tommy Korman) to swoop in for the kill. It’s clear right from the get-go that Honeymoon in Vegas benefits substantially from Cage’s idiosyncratic and entirely irresistible turn as the amiable central character, and it’s apparent, too, that the palpable chemistry between Cage and Parker goes a long way towards initially capturing the viewer’s interest and sympathy. Filmmaker Andrew Bergman appropriately keeps the tone light and the pace brisk – the colorful atmosphere is perpetuated by an ongoing emphasis on gaudy Vegas-specific elements (including an Elvis-heavy soundtrack) – so it’s somewhat disappointing to note that Honeymoon in Vegas suffers from a meandering and comparatively underwhelming midsection. It’s fairly apparent that there’s simply not enough story here to sustain a 96 minute movie, which paves the way for a second act that’s rife with padded-out, needless sequences (eg Jack’s visit with a quirky Hawaiian village leader, played by Peter Boyle). The film does recover for a satisfying (and fairly exciting) climactic stretch, however, with the end result a perfectly affable endeavor that’s ultimately as forgettable as it is entertaining.

**1/2 out of ****