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Elvis_ab.JPG

'Agent Elvis': The King of Rock & Roll & Espionage

By Nate Parker | TV | March 21, 2023 |

By Nate Parker | TV | March 21, 2023 |


Elvis_ab.JPG

Elvis Presley crammed a lot of living into his 42 years. His is a cautionary tale about the perils of fame, prescription drug abuse, and fried foods. Fortunately, Netflix’s 10-episode Agent Elvis ignores all that for a glitzy, star-studded 1960s spy romp that entertains even as it gets a bit repetitive.

Elvis (Matthew McConaughey) is at the height of his popularity and bored as hell. Busy making TV specials and movies and resentful of his dwindling musical influence, the King has resorted to vigilante justice for kicks, fighting off hippies and drug dealers even if they’re only around to screw or sell dope to his best friend, Bobby Ray (Johnny Knoxville), or chimp sidekick, Scatter. His one-time nanny, Bertie (Niecy Nash), is still trying to manage his behavior but without much luck. He’s a spiraling hot mess and Agent Cece (Kaitlin Olson) is about to take full advantage.

Honestly, the overarching plot of Elvis being wooed into the life of an international spy on behalf of TCB (The Central Bureau and not Taking Care of Business, unfortunately) is the series’ weakest link. Don Cheadle is great as the Commander, but the TCB angle only serves to put Elvis in bizarre situations, like fighting off Charles Manson’s hippies or disarming Howard Hughes’s (Jason Mantzoukas) nuclear-powered Spruce Goose before it can wipe out Las Vegas. This is an espionage workplace comedy, with the bloody action and bright color palette of The Venture Bros. and the wordplay and character dynamics of Archer. And while derivative of both, it’s strong enough to stand on its own.

The cast is great. Many professional actors are terrible with voice work, but that’s not a problem here. Sure, McConaughey just sounds like McConaughey, but at least he doesn’t attempt a terrible Elvis impression. Knoxville, Olson, Nash, and Cheadle fit their roles well, with Cheadle in particular given the opportunity to gnaw on the animated scenery. Tom Kenny, who played both Spongebob and Adventure Time’s Ice King, makes Scatter’s various noises and paired with the animation makes the coked-out ape one of the show’s highlights. Elvis’s ex-wife, Priscilla, plays a young version of herself and seems to enjoy messing with her ex’s legacy in a fun way. The show is full of 1960s easter eggs and fun Elvis trivia without being obnoxious about it, and nothing is lost if you don’t get the references. It tackles a few of the sketchier aspects of Elvis the man, like his adoration of Richard Nixon, refusal to speak on social and political issues, and his appropriation of Black music. It does so honestly, and even quotes a 1957 Jet interview by Louie Robinson where Elvis addressed the issue directly. Surrounding all this is graphic, slapstick violence and crude humor brought to life by a bold animation style that feels appropriate to the time period. A lot of the dialogue is more 2022 than 1960s, particularly Olson’s lines, but it all works. The soundtrack is full of classic and remixed versions of Elvis’s hits used to great effect.

Fans of crass adult animation will find a lot to like here. It’s easily digestible entertainment, best consumed over several days rather than a marathon so it doesn’t wear out its welcome. Even if some of it gets repetitive, it’s a solid first season. I’m hopeful Netflix gives it a second season to stretch its legs, but it’s anyone’s guess at this point if that’ll happen. Either way, Agent Elvis just got added to my regular rotation.