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Tom Donoghue/DonoghuePhotography.com
Jennifer Lopez performs at Mandalay Bay Events Center on Saturday, Aug. 18, 2012.
Thursday, Jan. 24, 2013 | 7:12 a.m.
Parker
Hollywood glamour arrives on The Strip tonight with superstar Jennifer Lopez and British action actor Jason Statham. It’s the red carpet premiere of their new $30 million movie “Parker” opening nationwide this weekend.
“Peepshow” stars Coco Austin, Cheaza and Josh Strickland will play host to welcome the daring duo to their Planet Hollywood theater for the screening. Former “Peepshow” headliner Holly Madison is expected on her first return to the theater since taking pregnancy leave in the fall for her baby daughter to be born now in five weeks.
Director Taylor Hackford, who brought the bestselling Donald E. Westlake novel “Flashfire,” of which the film is based, to the screen, will be on the arrivals carpet with “American Idol” Season 5 winner Taylor Hicks, UFC legend turned actor Randy Couture, music maestro L.A. Reid, Caesars Palace headliner Matt Goss and Planet Hollywood International’s head honcho Robert Earl.
J.Lo jets in from Wednesday’s appearance on ABC’s “Good Morning America” on the heels of wrapping her world tour; Enrique Iglesias and she were here at Mandalay Bay Events Center in August.
This edge-of-the-seat movie is a fast-moving, clutch-your-throat thriller shot on location in Louisiana (New Orleans and Baton Rouge) and Palm Beach, Fla. Jason plays a professional thief who steals only from the rich and hurts only bad people. J.Lo becomes his partner after he’s double-crossed, shot and left for dead. Naturally, it leads to a smoldering romantic involvement.
Jason, who has been a regular Planet Hollywood visitor (he walked the red carpet for “The Expendables” in 2010), describes his character Parker “as a man who lives by a certain moral code. He’s involved in criminal activities, but there’s a likeable quality to this anti-hero. He sees all business to be in some way crooked. He never steals from people he feels can’t afford it, and he doesn’t hurt people who don’t deserve it.”
A former diver for the British Olympic team, Jason performed his own stunts, including a dangerous jump from a fast-moving car in a shooting chase scene; it took him six daredevil jumps for the cameras to capture the finished scene. Jason also poses as a sociopathic priest and a wealthy Texan in the shoot’em up, nonstop action drama.
Patti LuPone, Nick Nolte and Michael Chiklis also are in the cast, but they’re not expected at tonight’s premiere. Vegas DeLuxe will post a report and photo gallery Friday, and we’ll tweet tonight @Robin_Leach.
Robin Leach has been a journalist for more than 50 years and has spent the past decade giving readers the inside scoop on Las Vegas, the world’s premier platinum playground.
Follow Robin Leach on Twitter at Twitter.com/Robin_Leach.
Follow Vegas DeLuxe on Twitter at Twitter.com/vegasdeluxe.
Follow VDLX Editor Don Chareunsy on Twitter at Twitter.com/VDLXEditorDon.
Catering to the young and modern crowd, Planet Hollywood is a one-stop shop for entertainment with its massive shopping mall, slew of restaurants, spacious casino and clubs.
The ambiance of the casino is retro-chic meets high-tech with black granite floors throughout and colorful LED lights throughout the space. The theme carries into the 100,000 square-foot casino with 250 flat screens topping off slot machines. The casino is also home to 87 tables, a sports book and a poker room.
There's also the Miracle Mile Shops, one Vegas' largest malls, with 140 stores including BCBG Max Azaria, bebe, Urban Outfitters and The Discovery Channel Store.
Following an afternoon of shopping, guests can satisfy their appetites at one of the gourmet restaurants in Planet Hollywood, like the non-traditional approach to steakhouses at Strip House or check out the exotic Far East motif at KOI restaurant and lounge. And if guests are still looking for more, they can spend the after hours at Privé, Triq or Krave nightclubs.
Perhaps one of the resorts biggest attractions came in March with the addition of "Peepshow." The naughty twist on the story of Little Bo Peep is modern-day spin on the run-of-the-mill Vegas topless review. The "Peepshow" stage has seen visiting celebs like Scary Spice Mel B, "Dancing with the Stars" Kelly Monaco and Playboy's Holly Madison.
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