He ain't nothing but a twin bro

What makes a man - nature or nurture? In the case of The Identical, genes win out. Or more accurately, rhinestone jumpsuits do.

Here's the goofy gist of this cornball epic:

Twin boys are born in Depression-era Alabama. Their father makes the curious calculation that he and the wife can afford to keep only one. The chosen son grows up to be early rock idol Drexel "The Dream" Hemsley. Oh, let's just go ahead and say it. He's Elvis.

The infant they give away is raised by a Tennessee evangelist (a ridiculously miscast Ray Liotta) and his wife (Ashley Judd) as Ryan Wade, a devout, obsequiously polite young man who seems destined for the ministry. But every time that crazy rock-and-roll music starts playing, Ryan gets all shook up and his hips take to flying out like a hula girl's. And he's always breaking into song for no reason.

Both Drexel and Ryan are played by Blake Rayne, an Elvis impersonator. Except when we first meet him as a "teen," enthralled with the devil's music at a honky-tonk, he looks more like Victor Mature in his prime.

Even weirder, his underage gee-willikers best pal is played by 40-year-old Overbrook Park native Seth Green. Whoever did the makeup for The Identical deserves a medal.

After trying his hand as a car mechanic, Ryan starts working the state fair circuit as an Elvis impersonator. Oops, I meant Drexel impersonator, of course.

Fate clomps around this movie in big old clown shoes. But dagnabbit, even when the twins are in the same room (Drexel approvingly watches Ryan's act), they never meet. If you just saw your doppelganger, wouldn't you at least say hello?

Trading strictly in visual and narrative cliches, The Identical is so solemn and silly that at times you could swear it was a lampoon. But a spoof wouldn't dare try to pull off an ending this preposterous and weepy. Would it?

Directed by Dustin Marcellino. With Blake Rayne, Ray Liotta, Ashley Judd, Seth Green.

Distributed by Freestyle Releasing.

Running time: 1 hour, 47 mins.

Parent's guide: PG (smoking, devil's music).

Playing at: area theaters.EndText

215-854-4875 @daveondemand_tv