Rhiannon Hendricks
Honeymoon in Vegas is a 1992 romantic comedy thriller film starring Nicolas Cage, Sarah Jessica Parker, and James Caan. The movie was adapted into a Broadway musical starring Rob McClure and Brynn O'Malley, with a score by Jason Robert Brown. The plot centres around a man named Jack, who is haunted by a promise he made to his mother on her deathbed never to marry. When his girlfriend Betsy wants to start a family, they decide to tie the knot in Vegas, but a series of complications and a dashing gambler named Tommy threaten their happy ending. The film received moderately positive reviews, with a 65% rating on Rotten Tomatoes and a nomination for Best Picture – Musical or Comedy at the Golden Globe Awards. The film's soundtrack featured covers of Elvis Presley songs, and it remains a memorable comedy, providing an evening of satisfying entertainment.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Genre | Comedy, Romance, Thriller |
| Rating | PG-13 |
| Runtime | 1h 36m |
| Release Date | 28 August 1992 |
| Awards | Nominated for Best Picture – Musical or Comedy at the 50th Golden Globe Awards |
| Soundtrack | Composed mainly of covers of Elvis Presley songs performed by country and pop/rock artists |
| Filming Locations | Las Vegas, New York, Culver Studios in California, Kauai |
| Broadway Adaptation | Yes |
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What You'll Learn
Honeymoon in Vegas: The movie
'Honeymoon in Vegas' is a 1992 American romantic comedy film written and directed by Andrew Bergman. The film stars James Caan, Nicolas Cage, and Sarah Jessica Parker. The film was released on August 28, 1992, and grossed $35.2 million at the box office in the United States and Canada, against a budget of $25 million.
The plot of the film centres around Jack Singer (Cage), a private detective who has a phobia of commitment due to a promise he made to his mother on her deathbed never to marry. However, he eventually decides to marry his girlfriend, Betsy (Parker), and the couple plans a Las Vegas wedding. At the same time, Jack joins a secret poker tournament and ends up gambling away Betsy to Tommy (Caan), a wealthy gambler who has recently lost his wife. Betsy bears a striking resemblance to Tommy's late wife, and he sets out to steal her from Jack. Betsy agrees to go to Hawaii with Tommy to teach Jack a lesson, but soon ends up falling for him. Jack, desperate to get her back, embarks on a cross-country adventure that includes a famous scene where he skydives from a plane with a group of Elvis impersonators.
The film received mixed reviews, with some praising it as a fun and entertaining romantic comedy, while others found it forgettable. It has been described as a "time capsule" of the 1990s, with references to Elvis impersonators and the Las Vegas of yesteryear. The film has also been adapted into a musical stage version, which debuted on Broadway in 2015.
Overall, 'Honeymoon in Vegas' is a light and entertaining romantic comedy that offers a humorous take on romance and commitment. While it may not be a memorable classic, it is still enjoyable and fun, with great characters and funny situations.
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Honeymoon in Vegas: The Broadway musical
"Honeymoon in Vegas" is a Broadway musical based on the 1992 film of the same name. The musical is written by Jason Robert Brown (music and lyrics) and Andrew Bergman (book).
The story follows Jack, who, haunted by his mother's promise never to get married, finally decides to tie the knot with his girlfriend Betsy in Las Vegas. However, things take a turn when Jack loses $65,000 in a poker game to a wealthy gambler, Tommy Korman. To clear his debt, Jack agrees to let Tommy spend a weekend with Betsy, who bears a striking resemblance to Tommy's late wife. Betsy agrees to go, hoping to teach Jack a lesson for procrastinating on their wedding. But when Tommy turns on the charm, Betsy starts falling for him, leading Jack to pursue them desperately.
The Broadway musical adaptation of "Honeymoon in Vegas" made some notable changes to the original story. One significant difference was keeping the mother's character alive, allowing for her recurring appearances in the show. The creative team, including composer Jason Robert Brown and writer Andrew Bergman, aimed to create a "real book musical" with a sound reminiscent of the '60s and '70s. They wanted the show to be brassy and captivating, a fun and lively experience for the audience.
The Broadway production of "Honeymoon in Vegas" featured a talented cast, including Rob McClure as Jack, Brynn O'Malley as Betsy, and Tony Danza as Tommy Korman. Rob McClure received nominations for his performance in the musical at the Tony, Drama League, Astaire, and Outer Critics Circle Awards. He also won the Theatre World and Clive Barnes Awards. Brynn O'Malley, who played Betsy, had previously made her Broadway debut as Belle in "Beauty and the Beast." Tony Danza, portraying Tommy Korman, was known for his role as Tony Micelli in the '80s sitcom "Who's the Boss?".
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Filming locations
The 1992 romantic comedy *Honeymoon in Vegas* was filmed on location in Las Vegas and Hawaii, as well as in California and New York.
In Las Vegas, the film was shot at Bally's Las Vegas (now Horseshoe Las Vegas) on 3645 Las Vegas Boulevard South, which includes scenes of the pool area, front entrance, theatre, and casino. Other Las Vegas filming locations include the Excalibur Hotel & Casino, on the corner of Tropicana Avenue and the Strip, and the Chapel of the Bells wedding chapel at 2233 Las Vegas Boulevard South.
In Hawaii, filming took place on the island of Kauai, including at the Kauai Marriott Resort, Kalapaki Beach, and the Inn on the Cliffs restaurant, located at the Westin Kauai Hotel. The house on Anini Beach was used as Tommy Korman's Hawaiian residence, and filming also took place at the National Tropical Botanical Garden.
Additional filming locations include Culver Studios in Culver City, California, and various locations in New York City, including 120 Mulberry Street (now Buona Notte), Sutton Place and Sutton Square, the Ethical Culture Fieldston School at 33 Central Park West, 259 Bleecker Street, and the Warwick New York hotel at 65 W 54th Street.
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Plot summary
"Honeymoon in Vegas" is a romantic comedy thriller film released in 1992. It was written and directed by Andrew Bergman and starred Nicolas Cage, Sarah Jessica Parker, and James Caan. The film follows the story of Jack Singer, who is terrified of marriage due to a promise he made to his late mother on her deathbed. However, he eventually proposes to his girlfriend Betsy Nolan, and they plan to elope to Las Vegas to get married.
In Las Vegas, Jack loses $65,000 in a poker game to a professional gambler, Tommy Korman, who becomes obsessed with Betsy due to her resemblance to his late wife. Tommy lures Jack into a poker game with steadily escalating stakes, and the only way Jack can pay off his debts is by agreeing to Tommy's terms, which include a weekend with Betsy. Betsy agrees to this arrangement to cancel Jack's debt.
Jack discovers that Tommy has taken Betsy to his vacation home in Kauai, Hawaii. With the help of his taxi driver friend, Mahi Mahi, Jack races to Hawaii to win Betsy back. However, he is led astray by Tommy's people, and Betsy agrees to marry Tommy for a million dollars. Meanwhile, Jack joins a group of skydiving Elvis impersonators on their way to Las Vegas.
Jack parachutes into Betsy's arms, and they marry on the spot. Betsy realizes her decision to marry Tommy was too rash, and she happily reunites with Jack. The story is a testament to the resilient and fateful nature of true love, despite external pressures and temptations.
A musical stage version of the movie, "Honeymoon in Vegas," with music and lyrics by Jason Robert Brown and a book by Andrew Bergman, premiered on Broadway in January 2015. The musical is based on the 1992 movie and features some changes, such as keeping the mother character alive.
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Reviews and ratings
The 1992 film *Honeymoon in Vegas* has received mixed reviews from critics. On Rotten Tomatoes, it has a 65% positive rating from critics, with an average score of 6.1/10. The consensus on the website describes the film as:
> "A light screwball comedy that has just about what you expect (and nothing you don't)."
Metacritic, which uses a weighted average, gave the film a score of 63 out of 100 based on 25 critic reviews, indicating "generally favourable" reviews. The film was also nominated for Best Picture – Musical or Comedy at the 50th Golden Globe Awards, with Nicolas Cage nominated for Best Actor – Motion Picture Musical or Comedy.
One review on IMDb describes the film as "good for some laughs", particularly highlighting the scene involving Jack and the flying Elvis impersonators. The review also notes that the film is "not entirely memorable" and gives it a rating of 6/10. Another review on the same platform calls the film "a paradoxically modern slice of nostalgia", praising writer/director Andrew Bergman for energetically reviving the "oddball" comedy. The review also commends Nicolas Cage for his "understated" performance.
However, not all reviews have been positive. One review on Metacritic describes the film as having "dumb writing, ordinary direction and [mind-bogglingly] awful performances". A Letterboxd user calls the film "cheesy" and "not funny", while another says that the script is "definitely a bit lacking".
A Broadway musical adaptation of the film was expected to debut in Toronto in November 2012, starring Tony Danza as Tommy Korman. The musical has also received recognition, with Rob McClure receiving several award nominations for his performance.
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Frequently asked questions
No, the musical stage version of the movie ended its run on Broadway on April 5, 2015.
The musical began previews on Broadway at the Nederlander Theatre on November 18, 2014, and officially opened on January 15, 2015.
The musical first opened at the Paper Mill Playhouse in New Jersey on September 26, 2013, and ran through October 27, 2013.
The cast included Rob McClure, Brynn O'Malley, and Tony Danza.
Honeymoon in Vegas is a romantic romp from New York to Vegas to Hawaii. It tells the story of Jack, a Brooklynite with a fear of marriage, who finally builds up the courage to propose to his girlfriend Betsy. However, when a smooth-talking gambler named Tommy falls for Betsy, Jack must go to great lengths to win her back.
