Almost Elvis (2001)

Member Rating:

Elvis Presley may be gone, but his legacy lives on, and while many fans are content to recall one of the greatest entertainers of the 20th Century by listening to his records or watching his movies, there's another breed of fan who seeks to bring Elvis back to life in a sense, devoting a remarkable amount of time, money, and energy in an effort to re-create the look and sound of the King of Rock & Roll on-stage. Almost Elvis is a documentary that looks at the cultural phenomenon of the Elvis impersonator, featuring interviews with a number of performers who play the nightclub circuit as they make like Elvis the Pelvis. Performers include Doug Church (called "the Voice of Elvis" by fans for his uncanny recreation of Presley's vocal style); Irv Cass (a perennially high-ranking contender in nationwide Elvis impersonation competitions); Mori Yasumasa (the Asian Elvis); Robert Washington (the African-American Elvis); Quentin Flagg (the teenaged Elvis); and Dean Z (who specialized in Elvis during his days in the Army). The film also offers a look at the annual Elvis World Championships in Memphis, in which impersonators battle for top honors during the city's annual Elvis Week celebration. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi