Tuesday, October 30, 2018

Movie review - "Fake Out" (1982) *1/2

The second of three films starring Pia Zadora that were financed by her then husband. As a vehicle for her talent it isn't bad - she gets to perform an opening number, is front and center for most of the action, is flanked by two experienced co stars (Telly Savalas, presumably doing it to pay off gambling debts like his character, and Desi Arnaz Jnr, who has an engaging presence), wears a series of different outfits, runs around in towels and takes lots of baths and teaches aerobics.

Pia is exploited a lot - director Matt Cimber shoots her in an almost lecherous way, with her often pouting and getting changed and being molested in prison by other women. You kind of feel like a dirty old man watching it. She's got that squeaky voice and limited acting range.

You kept thinking this should be better. The story was needlessly complicated. There was too much awkwardly staged action around the Riviera Hotel. It lacked a fourth major character - the part of her mob boss should've been bigger. The colorful local Vegas characters were irritating. (I did like the seeming blonde bimbo who would up machine gunning from a car)

Actually the more I think about it the more this film isn't very good. It should be a simple story about a lounge singer going to testify for the mob but is unsure about her character and full of "bits" that feel inserted. Why only get Pia to sing one song?

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