KSL Movie Show review: ‘The Last Showgirl’ needed a little more

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SALT LAKE CITY — A woman who once signified the essence of Hollywood beauty takes on the role of an aging Las Vegas showgirl who once ruled the Las Vegas Strip in her glory days as well. How could anyone other than Pamela Anderson be more perfect for a part like this?

Anderson has gone to great lengths to redefine how a mature woman can enjoy her life without the constraints of conventional trappings like makeup and hair dyes. Her determination to focus on the natural is commendable in an era of botox and facelifts.

Perhaps this is why Gia Coppola, Francis Ford Coppola’s granddaughter, chose her to play this character. Both Pamela and her character have witnessed the spotlight fade.

The impetus for this story came from the closing of the long-running Las Vegas glamour revue “Jubilee!” which opened at the MGM Grand Hotel and Casino in the summer of 1981. The initial run cost $10 million to produce.

It featured the most beautiful girls in Bob Mackie costumes in front of massive, elaborate sets. The show ran for 35 years — closing in 2016 — and was considered the ultimate showcase of elegant Las Vegas.

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In this movie, “Le Razzle Dazzle” producer Eddie (a fully-quaffed Dave Bautista) has the unenviable task of telling the showgirls, in particular Shelly (Pamela Anderson), that the show is losing audience appeal and may be forced to shut down in favor of the latest gimmick — a circus sideshow.

Shelly has been a prime showgirl in “Le Razzle Dazzle” for 30 years and can’t imagine doing anything else. Her best friend Annette (Jamie Lee Curtis) is a past-her-prime, sun-weathered cocktail waitress who is a brash woman dealing with a financial mess of her own. Side note, if anyone’s being suggested for a brave performance here, it’s got to be Jamie Lee as she is beyond fearless in this role.

To complicate matters, Shelly’s estranged daughter Hannah (Billie Lourd) has come home to remind her mother of the nightmarish childhood she had.

Mom danced each night in the show while leaving little Hannah in a parking garage with a Game Boy because she couldn’t afford childcare. And all poor Shelly can say is “I’m sorry, but you turned out great” (she didn’t).

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And of course, we have the obligatory scene where Shelly tries to audition for other dance roles along the Strip. After all, she knows the ropes.

But she gets the same old song and dance that they’re “looking to go in a different direction” or “we’re aiming for a different feel” while she knows good and well it’s because she’s too old. But they can’t come out and say that. Shame on you, Jason Schwartzman (and your jerk director character.)

I wish there was more to this movie. Especially since a couple of the other, younger dancers were played by good actresses, Brenda Song and Kiernan Shipka, but they were given very little to do, as the focus was primarily on Pamela. And frankly, there wasn’t enough for Pamela to do either. Too bad, because I think there was much more here below the surface.

“The Last Showgirl” (B-) Rated R for language and nudity. Starring Pamela Anderson, Jamie Lee Curtis, Dave Bautista, Billie Lourd, Kiernan Shipka and Brenda Strong.  Directed by Gia Coppola (“Mainstream” “Palo Alto”) – filmed in Las Vegas. Running time: 88 minutes. 

The KSL Movie Show with Andy Farnsworth and Steve Salles airs Fridays on KSL NewsRadio from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Follow the show on Facebook, and join The KSL Movie Show Club for exclusive perks by texting MOVIE to 57500. Message and data rates may apply. Text STOP to cancel. Message frequency varies.