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Created May 12, 2012 01:20AM PST • Edited Jul 27, 2019 07:36PM PST

1. Quality

2. Summary

   OK 2.5

   Elvis returns to Hawaii from the Army and proceeds to shake things up with a bunch of girls, his flustered parents and the local tourism industry. Notwithstanding the King’s undying charisma, Blue Hawaii is a disappointing lark, especially since it contains no great songs and lacks a great female lead.

   Perhaps most notably, Elvis invents the sales incentive trip at movie’s end, declaring to his pineapple mogul father than he’s going into business for himself. Selling what? Sales incentive trips to stateside companies. Given how such trips have become big business in the ensuing decades, that’s one more accomplishment we can ascribe to the King of Rock and Roll.

4. Acting

   Very Good 3.5

   We never get tired of seeing Elvis, watching him perform and watching him kiss girls. Pity that his movies didn’t measure up to his talent.

   Joan Blackman is adorable as his Hawaiian girlfriend, even if she’s no Ann-Margaret.

   The Hawaiian natives who are his beach buddies and bandmates are also freshly appealing.

5. Male Stars Great 4.0

6. Female Stars Good 3.0

7. Female Costars Good 3.0

8. Male Costars Very Good 3.5

10. Film

    Barely OK 2.0

    Par for the course with Elvis movies, the songs are disappointing. Only Can’t Help Falling In Love and the title track of Blue Hawaii strike a chord.

11. Direction Barely OK 2.0

12. Play Barely OK 2.0

13. Music Barely OK 2.0

14. Visuals Very Good 3.5
15. Content

16. Edge

    Risqué 1.6

17. Sex Titillating 1.8

18. Violence Gentle 1.5

19. Rudeness Salty 1.6

21. Reality

    Glib 1.5

22. Circumstantial Glib 1.4

23. Biological Glib 1.7

24. Physical Glib 1.4