Evengyny Thanks for the memories!

Micitype Pretty Good

Glucedee It's hard to see any effort in the film. There's no comedy to speak of, no real drama and, worst of all.

Jonah Abbott There's no way I can possibly love it entirely but I just think its ridiculously bad, but enjoyable at the same time.

djmyers-92157 When I was about four years old, I think this was the first movie I remember being on the television with me taking glances at it with my late grandmother in the room. Maybe it was because I loved "Gilligans Island" at that time in my young life, not due to Elvis. But very shortly into the flick, my wonderful grandmother gave me my first Elvis introduction. So to me, starting off, Elvis was an actor. I distinctly remember her saying " Oooooh an Elvis movie"...which brings me to now, my second viewing of it finally after all these years and my very first review... how fitting for me. The movie had feel good all over it...from the beautiful scenery to the occasional comedy which indeed made me laugh a couple times. No wander the movie made me look up to take notice as a four year old...beautiful, even in Technicolor. The laughs even work for today's age....especially towards the end, and a couple along the way. Hard to beat a beautiful ocean, palm trees, and Elvis.I'm personally however not the biggest musical lover. So to me, it loses a grade instantly for that. But dang man..the Elvis hit "Can't help falling in Love" is in there.That doesn't mean avoid all musicals your entire life. If you do, you might just miss a beautiful little flick like this. Oh by the way...Elvis is a fine actor...and did a fine job in Blue Hawaii.

MattyGibbs Blue Hawaiii is a stereotypical Elvis film. It's good natured undemanding fun and therein lies it's charm. For me this is one of his better films and features a pretty good cast including Angela Lansbury as Elvis's mom. His love interest is played by Joan Blackman who even by Elvis girl standards is incredibly beautiful and who puts in a charming performance. There are a few laughs to be had and a few memorable scenes. The only downside for me was the quality of the songs which with a few exceptions weren't the greatest. This will likely appeal mainly to fans of Elvis but even those with just a passing interest in him can find some enjoyment from this fun movie.

Michael_Elliott Blue Hawaii (1961)** (out of 4) After two years in the service, Chad Gates (Elvis Presley) returns home to Hawaii where his parents, including mom played by Angela Lansbury, wants him to join the family business. This doesn't sit too well with Chad because he wants to make his mark on the world by himself but with a little assistance from his girl (Joan Blackman). This is a pretty disappointing film for the music legend as it offers him very little in terms of the ability to show off a performance as the screenplay is so weak and juvenile that just about anyone could have played the lead. There's some good stuff scattered around but for the most part the screenplay doesn't have enough in it to last the entire running time of the film. As I've said, the biggest problem is the screenplay, which delivers a bunch of lame and obnoxious characters. We see Elvis having to deal with his mother as well as an older woman with a group of teenage girls including one (Jenny Maxwell) who thinks she's older than she is. I'm sure these characters were written with humor in mind but all of them come off very forced and obnoxious. These supporting characters really brought the film down even though the actual performers are rather good at bringing these obnoxious people to life. Elvis is decent in the role but it never seemed like he was too interested in the material. He has that typical charm of his but nothing he does ever really jumped out at me. Blackman makes for an attractive lead but she can't add anything else to the movie. The film features the classic "Can't Help Falling in Love" but outside of that I found the music to be quite lame. The various love songs to Hawaii were rather embarrassing as the musical numbers were poorly and lazily handled.

moonspinner55 Incredibly weak outing for Elvis Presley, here playing a soldier returning home to Honolulu and fighting with his parents over the direction of his life (seems E.P. wants to be a guide for tourists, but his folks would rather have him go into the family business--pineapples). Angela Lansbury (playing Elvis' mother!) slips too easily into a caricature of a clucking mother-hen, possibly to help compensate for her miscasting; Joan Blackman is an entirely forgettable love-interest. Presley himself looks rather bored, and even his songs are mediocre. Film was very popular in 1961, mostly with Presley-fans who were celebrating his own return from service, and with viewers who never got to Hawaii themselves. *1/2 from ****