Chad Gates (Elvis Presley) has been serving his country (in his previous movie GI Blues - and, of course, in real life too) and has just flown back to picture postcard perfect Hawaii with his centre fold perfect model girlfriend Maile Duval (Joan Blackman) waiting for him at the airport.

His Daddy's rich, he's good looking, he's got a great girlfriend, he's got a shack by the sea, the only cloud on the horizon is THE WORLD'S MOST ANNOYING MOTHER, played by Angela Lansbury, and then, later on in the movie, you come across his employer at the Travel Agency and you realise that somewhere in this movie was when Elvis movies started to go all wrong...

"Is this the last of the good, or the first of the bad Elvis movies? Watch closely and you can see the fusion taking place."

"The great thing with Elvis is that no matter what kind of stupid useless dopey drippy situation or characters they put him with he comes out of it with a smile."

"One of my favourites, although it's such a sad moment when Elvis sings 'Can't help falling in love [with you]' to a 78 year old grandmother - although singing 'Hound Dog' to that floppy eared dog in a top hat on TV came close."

"Elvis has never been more buff."

"Elvis sings: 'I was minding my own business, I was drinking Daddy's juice...' Now, I am willing to accept that in the early 1960's nothing wrong was seen in this line, however in the porn round every corner 2000's this is just plain wrong."

"I always thought The King had wimpy arms. This movie only confirms my worst fears. Was he too busy shagging to get down to the gym?"

Mailie and Chad marry in picture postcard perfect Hawaiian marriage on a slow boat down a river which is glasslike.

Common wisdom says that this is the first of the bad Elvis movies, and it's hard to dispute that. However it is enjoyably bad, with some very good moments, saved by 26 year old Elvis and the scenery. Audiences around the world had just seen G I Blues which was quite good, and, before that, Jailhouse Rock which the same common wisdom says is probably Elvis's best movie. After Blue Hawaii watch Elvis movies at your peril.

On the positive side, when looked upon as a piece of Elvis memorabilia, this movie beats the pants out of that mosaic made out of sea shells of Elvis' face.

This movie is woefully let down by the Angela Lansbury mother character, and the Travel Agent manager. However Elvis is so good the brown stuff just drips off him leaving no mark and you can't help loving him even more.

Believe me when I say this is, chronologically, the last Elvis movie you will ever want to watch because, even though there are some bad bits here, there are slightly more good things about this movie - that can't be said for many later Elvis movies.

"I was almost always true to you."

"Do you think you can satisfy a school teacher and four teenage girls?"

"I was minding my own business. I was drinking Daddy's juice."

Singing about a fight he had just got into and was jailed for punching a guy in the face: "Till someone shoved his face against my hand."

Pineapples.

In the classic Hawaiian hoola-hoop hip swivel position, with flower necklace.

No. Elvis belts out some classics. 'Almost Always True to You', 'No More', 'Can't Help Falling In Love' (sang to a 78 year old), 'Rock A Hula Baby', and 'Beach Boy Blues' (apart from a few of the lyrics) are all very good.

OK: "Ito Eats", and "Slicin Sand" are dismal.

There is a new restored sound version out on DVD. In the musical numbers the lips don't exactly match the words, however the sound is much better.

Elvis does tend to leave himself a bit open with his swingy punch, however watch the guy who kicks off the fight in the bar brawl as he hits the guy with his forearm.

Don't try 'slicin sand' when the sand is wet.

Probably best not to go off with your mates as soon as you see them when you are out for a swim with your girlfriend unless you are Elvis, even if your mates have remembered to put a guitar on board for you to sing with.

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A corgi plays a pivotal role in helping cover Maile's boobies when her skimpy costume (for it's time) comes off mid-swim. Thankfully the corgi does not sing.

A small papaya tree (or bush or whatever they grow on).

Some fantastic scenery, some excellent songs and a few hilariously dumb Elvis movie numbers. The Angela Lansbury character is atrocious and the travel agent manager is idiotic, but apart from that this movie has much to recommend in it.

The debate amongst Elvis fans as to whether this is the first bad Elvis movie, or the last good one, will run and run. It has elements of both.

It is a fun outing and it is quite amazing how Elvis gives a form of credibility to what is, at times, a truly awful screenplay.

September 11, 2004