Other than some of Elvis' more serious, earlier films, such as "King Creole" and "Jailhouse Rock", this is really one of his better efforts. The reasons are many but I will explore some of them here.
First, musically speaking it's pretty solid. It's probably Elvis' best film from a musical standpoint in the 1960s. Highlights include Elvis performing Ray Charles' "What'd I Say", "Come on Everybody" and "If You Think I Don't Need You" by his friend Red West. Ann-Margret receives an unusual amount of songs for an Elvis co-star, totally 2 solo songs and 1 duet (the memorable, and relatively highly integrated, "The Lady Loves Me"..... one of the few moments when an Elvis film feels like a real musical). And of course one can't forget the rousing title song which Elvis performs several times in the film as well.
The supporting cast is the usual group of stalwart character actors. Cesare Danova is suitably suave and smooth as Elvis' rival for Ann-Margret, an Italian racer. Veteran actor William Demarest appears as Ann-Margret's father, a friendly and energetic senior citizen who wants to help Elvis work on cars and hang out with the boys. Nicky Blair is amusing as Elvis' main sidekick.
As to the film's story, of course it's all very inconsequential but well done. Ann-Margret makes a big impression with her first appearance, especially on the big screen. The audience is drawn in by the device of Mancini and Lucky's search for her in the nightclubs of Vegas. The plot is just enough for the purpose it needs to serve in this lightweight entertainment; basically it's the old race car film plot of the girlfriend who doesn't approve of racing, but for some reason decides just in time for the big race that she needs to stand by her man and cheer very loudly from the sidelines (in this case, from a helicopter).
An all-around solid piece of entertainment and an admirable product of the fading days of Hollywood's glamor days.
First, musically speaking it's pretty solid. It's probably Elvis' best film from a musical standpoint in the 1960s. Highlights include Elvis performing Ray Charles' "What'd I Say", "Come on Everybody" and "If You Think I Don't Need You" by his friend Red West. Ann-Margret receives an unusual amount of songs for an Elvis co-star, totally 2 solo songs and 1 duet (the memorable, and relatively highly integrated, "The Lady Loves Me"..... one of the few moments when an Elvis film feels like a real musical). And of course one can't forget the rousing title song which Elvis performs several times in the film as well.
The supporting cast is the usual group of stalwart character actors. Cesare Danova is suitably suave and smooth as Elvis' rival for Ann-Margret, an Italian racer. Veteran actor William Demarest appears as Ann-Margret's father, a friendly and energetic senior citizen who wants to help Elvis work on cars and hang out with the boys. Nicky Blair is amusing as Elvis' main sidekick.
As to the film's story, of course it's all very inconsequential but well done. Ann-Margret makes a big impression with her first appearance, especially on the big screen. The audience is drawn in by the device of Mancini and Lucky's search for her in the nightclubs of Vegas. The plot is just enough for the purpose it needs to serve in this lightweight entertainment; basically it's the old race car film plot of the girlfriend who doesn't approve of racing, but for some reason decides just in time for the big race that she needs to stand by her man and cheer very loudly from the sidelines (in this case, from a helicopter).
An all-around solid piece of entertainment and an admirable product of the fading days of Hollywood's glamor days.