TV REVIEW: AGENT ELVIS - Season 1

3/5

Disgraceland. 

10 Episodes. Starring: Matthew McConaughey, Kaitlin Olson, Johnny Knoxville, Niecy Nash, Tom Kenny, Priscilla Presley & Don Cheadle. Created By: Priscilla Presley, John Eddie & Mike Arnold. On: Netflix. 

Matthew McConaughey is Elvis. We're calling that as one of the best sentences you'll read all year. Not even a full calendar cycle after Baz Luhrmann's gaudy 'Elvis' biopic with Tom Hanks' unreliable Colonel Parker narrator hit glitzy screens. That grand affair made 'Once Upon A Time...In Hollywood' actor Austin Butler a star. And the accent stuck with the Academy Award nominated actor, thank you very much. McConaughey, on the other hand, sticks to his own vocal pitch, alright, alright, alright. Half-sounding a little like The King, but more like the greatest and fondest feeling voice in Tinseltown this side of Morgan Freeman. 

I mean this is the Texan drawl that didn't even need to switch it up for the Big Smoke gangsters of Guy Ritchie's 'The Gentlemen'. It's a blast to hear the southern comfort of McConaughey playing Memphis, Tennessee's very own. Storming the gates of Graceland like The Killers sang about Springsteen doing. Especially when he gets blood on his blue suede shoes, kicking suspicious behinds. Because stepping in a brand-new direction, this is 'Agent Elvis' on the quick draw. From a Las Vegas residency to the freaking moon. 

What the...yeah, you might think that, but think again. Elvis won't be turning in his glamorous grave over this one. This adult animated comedy on Netflix taking cues from agent 'Archer' and Marvel's 'Hit-Monkey' on Hulu (with a chimp that makes that primate look every which way but loose) is created by no other than Priscilla Presley (also voicing her own character) herself, alongside John Eddie (the same one who used to perform with the aforementioned Boss?) and Mike Arnold. So this outrageous black comedy about the rock 'n roll star moonlighting for the U.S. government with all due respect is rooted in exactly that, and some truth to boot. 

Elvis did have a pet chimpanzee called Scatter like his name was Michael. He did know how to karate kick ass. And he also asked former President Nixon to make him a federal agent. There's no scandal here. You only have to watch the mesmerizing movie 'Elvis and Nixon' starring an undeniable Michael Shannon as The King and...erm...let's leave it there, shall we? As for the moon stuff. Peep the plane on your next tour of a celebrity home. Or even better listen to Lo-Fang's out of this world cover of 'Don't Be Cruel' and the album artwork to match. 

Another King may have just swept Memphis out of the building, but this agent of change does nothing to tarnish the sequinned legacy of one of music's greatest of all-time. A showstopper to match the one-man show himself in a white cape, this Netflix show served up at the same time as the 'Beef' of one of this year's best is the fun-filled escape you need when you get home from the work this is not suitable for. The Vietnam War, the Manson family and a whole host of psychedelics takes the stage in this amazing animation which really catches the granite jaw of The King in his best side and light. Not to mention cartoon cameos from the unreal likes of Howard Hughes, Robert Goulet (played perfectly by 'The Hangover's' Ed Helms) and an amazing actor who has played Elvis more times than Vegas. All for a little less conversation and a f###load more action. Now how's that for satisfaction? C'mon, c'mon!

Sure, the great Kaitlin Olson's character looks like Black Widow and 'Jackass' Johnny Knoxville basically plays himself, but they're welcome additions to Elvis' crack team here every 'Cocaine Tuesday'. Don't snort! You won't return this to sender. As are the voices of Niecy Nash, and Tom Kenny going from Spongebob to Scatter (might need that sponge to clean up all that mess after this monkey s###s his squarepants). But it's the foul War Machine and monger of Don Cheadle who steals the show as The Commander. This is not for the feint Marvel of heart. 

Owning it amongst guest stars like Fred Armisen, Craig Robinson, Christina Hendricks, 'Succession's' Kieran Culkin, George Clinton as himself, Simon Pegg as Paul McCartney and even Baz Luhrmann himself with the co-sign. This canon is a fine addition to the legend of Elvis and The King's lore. Presley always wanted to be an agent, and now thanks to his beloved Priscilla, he gets that chance. Critics, stop cryin' all the time. Off the unchained melody, a whole new hound dog has entered the building. TIM DAVID HARVEY. 

Further Filming: 'Elvis', 'Archer', 'Hit-Monkey'.