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.
That review summary may seem like a subjective statement, as there are people that like 'Kissin' Cousins' or don't think much of Elvis' earlier efforts, but count me in as somebody who considers Elvis' films before 'Kissin' Cousins' pretty good. 'Wild in the Country', 'Girls! Girls! Girls!' and 'Fun in Acapulco' were average or just slightly above that, but 'King Creole', 'Flaming Star', 'Jailhouse Rock' and 'Loving You' in particular were close to great. Elvis certainly made worse films than 'Kissin' Cousins' but there is a lot here that made his later films less good.
Of course, 'Kissin' Cousins' isn't unwatchable. Glenda Farrell is sweetly affecting as Ma, while Arthur O' Connell makes much of little as does a suitably blustering Jack Albertson. Yvonne Craig has a pretty vapid role but has a perky charm and shares decent chemistry with Elvis. Didn't think much of the soundtrack this time round, but there are a few good ones with the title song, the rousing "Catching on Fast" and aptly named "Tender Feeling" coming off best.
Despite singing beautifully, Elvis himself looks awkward and disinterested in a dual role that do nothing to play to his strengths (quite the opposite). His hillbilly character especially is a waste of film celluloid. While there are bright spots in the cast, most of them are at best forgettable as tamely stereotypical characters. A few good songs aside, the best the rest of the soundtrack gets is eminently forgettable, with "Smoking Mountain Boy" and especially "Barefoot Ballad" worse than disposable.
'Kissin' Cousins', unlike Elvis' earlier films, doesn't even have the distinction of looking good, with the film evidently looking as though it was made in a rush and on the cheap judging from the phoney and un-evocative sets, Elvis' tacky blond wig and scrappy photography and editing. The script is badly out of date, unfunny and sappy sitcom-level, while the story feels over-stretched, sluggishly paced and painfully predictable. Gene Nelson directs without interest, energy or distinction.
All in all, not unwatchable but a misfire. See Elvis' earlier efforts to see that he was capable of a good performance when allowed and that he did make good films. 4/10 Bethany Cox
That review summary may seem like a subjective statement, as there are people that like 'Kissin' Cousins' or don't think much of Elvis' earlier efforts, but count me in as somebody who considers Elvis' films before 'Kissin' Cousins' pretty good. 'Wild in the Country', 'Girls! Girls! Girls!' and 'Fun in Acapulco' were average or just slightly above that, but 'King Creole', 'Flaming Star', 'Jailhouse Rock' and 'Loving You' in particular were close to great. Elvis certainly made worse films than 'Kissin' Cousins' but there is a lot here that made his later films less good.
Of course, 'Kissin' Cousins' isn't unwatchable. Glenda Farrell is sweetly affecting as Ma, while Arthur O' Connell makes much of little as does a suitably blustering Jack Albertson. Yvonne Craig has a pretty vapid role but has a perky charm and shares decent chemistry with Elvis. Didn't think much of the soundtrack this time round, but there are a few good ones with the title song, the rousing "Catching on Fast" and aptly named "Tender Feeling" coming off best.
Despite singing beautifully, Elvis himself looks awkward and disinterested in a dual role that do nothing to play to his strengths (quite the opposite). His hillbilly character especially is a waste of film celluloid. While there are bright spots in the cast, most of them are at best forgettable as tamely stereotypical characters. A few good songs aside, the best the rest of the soundtrack gets is eminently forgettable, with "Smoking Mountain Boy" and especially "Barefoot Ballad" worse than disposable.
'Kissin' Cousins', unlike Elvis' earlier films, doesn't even have the distinction of looking good, with the film evidently looking as though it was made in a rush and on the cheap judging from the phoney and un-evocative sets, Elvis' tacky blond wig and scrappy photography and editing. The script is badly out of date, unfunny and sappy sitcom-level, while the story feels over-stretched, sluggishly paced and painfully predictable. Gene Nelson directs without interest, energy or distinction.
All in all, not unwatchable but a misfire. See Elvis' earlier efforts to see that he was capable of a good performance when allowed and that he did make good films. 4/10 Bethany Cox