At a time when explicit violence is being frowned upon in movies and television, there's a kind of subversive glee to "True Romance" as it offers a glib spin on in-your-face blood 'n' guts. Not to mention sick humor.

This is not meant as a recommendation, mind you. Be advised that we are in "Reservoir Dogs" territory here, and like that film, "True Romance" is meant to be ironic, over the top and wildly eccentric. Even if it's forced.

So, it's not surprising to find that "Reservoir Dogs" writer-director Quentin Tarantino wrote "True Romance," though he has left directing chores to Tony Scott ("Top Gun," "Days of Thunder").

Christian Slater stars as an aimless young man working in a Detroit comic book shop when he links up with Patricia Arquette at an all-night kung fu festival of Sonny Chiba flicks. Later, he learns that she is a novice hooker sent by a friend for his birthday. But he doesn't care. He's in love. And, as it happens, so is she.

So, the next morning they get married, and Slater decides to pay a visit to Arquette's pimp (Gary Oldman). When the visit is over, the pimp, among others, is dead, Slater is on the run with drug money and both the cops and the crooks are on his trail.

Slater and Arquette decide to hit the road for Hollywood but first take a side trip to visit Slater's father (Dennis Hopper), a retired cop. They haven't seen each other in years and the exchange is decidedly awkward. It's also unfortunate, since, after Slater and Arquette leave, mob boss Christopher Walken comes calling.

As they head down their chosen road, Slater and Arquette seem oblivious to the trail of mayhem they've left behind and when they arrive in Hollywood the stage is set for a series of very bloody confrontations.

Audience enjoyment of this film will rely heavily on the ability to accept the film's broad comic strokes as they are laced with terror and blood. The most dynamic is the profane, racist confrontation between Hopper and Walken — but there are many others.

Slater and Arquette are also very good, and comic cameo honors go to Bronson Pinchot as a movie studio flunkie, Saul Rubinek as his boss and Brad Pitt as a constantly stoned hanger-on. Val Kilmer also puts in an appearance as the spirit of Elvis, who pops up periodically to advise Slater's character. But Elvis is such an overworked joke these days that his appearances become tiresome rather quickly.

There are as many flat and dull moments here as there are scenes that sparkle with imagination. At its best, "True Romance" exhibits sharp dialogue and fresh comic approaches — but too often the bloodbath mentality simply washes away the film's more appealing elements.

And Scott's self-consciously artsy direction doesn't help. As with many of his films, it is instead simply a distraction.

"True Romance" is rated R for considerable violence and gore, profanity, vulgarity, sex and nudity.