moonspinner55 Review of Rhinestone

Rhinestone (1984)

"Freddie, there are two kinds of people in this world--and you ain't one of 'em!"

[1/10 · 10 November 2008]

Never mind that "Rhinestone" already looks like a dated relic from another century...it was a very poor picture in its day, and time has not been kind to it. Country crooner Dolly Parton takes a bet (singing five more years at sleazy Ron Leibman's rowdy roadhouse) that she can turn obnoxious cab-driver Sylvester Stallone into a "Rhinestone Cowboy". That's the whole plot, really; the rest of it (ogling bar-owner Liebman, the budding romance between the two stars) is inconsequential. Bob Clark directed, shamefully. There's practically no action--just mouthing off--and even Parton's grounded, natural effervescence is discarded for the sake of extremely cheap laughs. It's a movie purposefully targeted at yahoos (who else would even want to see it, aside from Dolly-addicts?). Still, it's an insulting come-on to crowds of even the lowest denomination, and the smugness (especially on Stallone's part) is insufferable. NO STARS from ****