What starts as a tongue-in-cheek fairy tale tapers off into a mere shaggy-dog story about a rock-star wannabe (and Ricky Nelson idolator) who sports a pompadour combed straight up from his forehead, adding half a foot to his height. It's quite well acted without being in the least believable (Brad Pitt's James Dean affectations are neatly absorbed into the role), and it's more funny-strange than funny-ha-ha, but it manages to draw you into its tawdry universe, where you can ponder such ontological posers as who would bother to create such a thing and why. With Catherine Keener, Calvin Levels, Alison Moir, and Nick Cave; written and directed by Tom DiCillo. (1992) — Duncan Shepherd
This movie is not currently in theaters.