Elvis Presley films generally aren’t great. Of his thirty-one feature films, it’s hard to say more than a handful are genuinely enjoyable and worth watching. Still, even the weaker ones have their fans—not just those who love Elvis in general, but also people who appreciate the campiness and go along with it. However, completely dismissing Presley's contribution to cinema overlooks the few movies that actually stand up well under closer examination. *Viva Las Vegas* is one of these. It’s certainly a bright, energetic, colorful spectacle, but it also demonstrates that when paired with a strong co-star, Presley had the potential to move beyond the formulaic and predictable films his manager, Colonel Tom Parker, kept pushing him toward. The story follows Presley as “Lucky Jackson,” a race car driver who arrives in Vegas for the Grand Prix, only to find his car needs expensive engine repairs. He takes a job as a waiter, which complicates things when he meets Rusty Martin {Ann-Margret}, an attractive pool attendant and dance instructor. She’s not interested in his advances, and he also has competition for her attention: Count Elmo Mancini (Cesare Danova), another race driver determined to win the Grand Prix himself. That's essentially all there is—a simple plot at its finest. Naturally, the film provides an opportunity for Presley to pursue the girl, sing songs, and become a racing hero. But *Viva Las Vegas* possesses a genuine sense of fun that’s missing from many of his other musicals; it’s lively, clever, and yes, sexy, largely thanks to the strong chemistry between Presley and Margret. It's said there was an affair between them, but setting that aside, they also developed a friendship that continued until Presley’s tragic death. This film serves as a nice tribute to the start of their connection. Director George Sidney handles the project straightforwardly, even if we perhaps get too many camera angles focusing on Miss Margret's rear (seriously, try and count them). Joseph F. Biroc is responsible for the cinematography, bringing the Vegas setting to life in Panavision & Metrocolor. The film is also notable for a couple of other things: it was one of Elvis’ highest-grossing movies and boasts an exceptionally strong collection of songs. Besides the memorable title track, we hear "The Lady Loves Me," "Come On Everybody," “The Yellow Rose Of Texas,” “The Eyes Of Texas Are Upon You,” “I Need Somebody To Lean On,” “Today, Tomorrow And Forever,” “What’d I Say,” “If You Think I Don't Need You,” and Margret contributes with the charming “Appreciation” & "My Rival." Interestingly, and a source of criticism over the years, RCA largely ignored the film’s soundtrack, cutting some well-regarded songs and failing to properly market what was available. They really missed out. With both stars looking and sounding great (Presley seems almost sculpted from porcelain), and Margret matching his energy and lively dancing, *Viva Las Vegas* is a genuinely enjoyable experience. It's a celebration of love, joy, and music—so there’s really no reason not to let the Pelvis and the Derriere take you to a foot-tapping kind of paradise. 7/10

Source on TMDB