Elvis Presley was a hugely influential performer with one of the most distinctive singing voices of anybody. He embarked on a film career consisting of 33 films from 1956 to 1969, films that did well at the box-office but mostly panned critically (especially his later films) and while he was a highly charismatic performer he was never considered a great actor.
Am of the opinion that his early efforts pre-'Kissin' Cousins', his first mediocre at best film, ranged from decent to very good, while his films between 'Kissin' Cousins' and 'Harum Scarum' were more variable. Of his films 'King Creole', 'Flaming Star', 'Jailhouse Rock', 'Viva Las Vegas' and 'Loving You' fare best. Those films, and most of his late 50s-early 60s films, looked good, had great soundtracks, great supporting casts and showed that Elvis could be a very capable actor when his material allowed it, even when the dialogue and stories were in a few of them were not strong suits ('King Creole' was a notable exception though). Am also of the opinion that Elvis' film career was an uneven one, while there were good films and performances there were also bad films where he looked bored, where the films had not so good soundtracks and looked cheap, a notable example being his previous film 'Harum Scarum' (widely considered one of his worst for good reason).
Worse efforts than 'Paradise Hawaiian Style'? Marginally yes, it is a little better than 'Harum Scarum' and some of his later films. It is still a lesser effort in his career though. Not terrible but very much mediocre, and most components even less than that.
There are good things with 'Paradise Hawaiian Style'. It looks pretty good, with suitably exotic scenery beautifully photographed. It is not as cheap-looking as his later films or previous efforts like 'Kissin' Cousins', 'Harum Scarum' and 'Frankie & Johnny'.
Of a pretty poor cast generally, Donna Butterworth is the one good standout, sweet and charming with a great voice. The soundtrack is one of the overall worst for an Elvis film, but the title song just about passes muster as a nice enough song.
Otherwise, there is very little to recommend it. The material throughout is not up to par and it is abundantly clear that Elvis himself knows it. He is the most uncomfortable he's ever been up to that point and looks utterly bored and like he wasn't even trying to act. The supporting cast are no better, with the girls having sex appeal but nothing more than that, and the rest having little to do and doing nothing with it. Chemistry is non-existent.
As for the songs, to say that they are unmemorable and sub-par is being far too kind to these adjectives. Quite frankly, apart from one they are a complete embarrassment with the titles and lyrics to make one groan, feel thrown in, are sloppily lip-synched, indifferently staged and performed with no engagement. The direction is throughout dull.
Have no better news to say about the script and story. The script will make the toes curl of even people not expecting much from the script in the first place, after all people don't watch an Elvis film for the script or expecting it to be good, in even some of the best efforts the dialogue is a weak link. The story is like a retread of 'Blue Hawaii', and by now is well shopworn, it's also paper thin, sluggishly paced and goes well overboard on the silliness. Complete with naff, being annoying and far too saccharine, scenes with children that just drag the film down even further.
In conclusion, mediocre at best film where describing it as paradise is very much ironic. 4/10 Bethany Cox
