IF IT’S ELVIS, COUNT ME OUT
All right, let the abusive letters roll: Elvis Presley is the biggest bore since mathematics.
Actually, mathematics can be rather more interesting and, if you begin to understand, positively stimulating. But Elvis is always, “If a equals b and b equals c then a must equal c.”
In other worlds, as predictable as an equation; as known as a first step in logic; as tiresomely precise as a chemical formula.
‘Girl Happy’ (Empire U) is a routine Elvis picture. It has colour, girls, a few songs, and Elvis.
The plot gets Elvis and his group – including Bing Crosby’s son Gary – rushing off to Fort Lauderdale to protect the innocent young daughter of the night-club owner who is their employer.
Saved
Innocent young daughter (Shelley Fabares) has a mathematically interesting figure and an approach to sex which would make even a Women’s Institute flower arranger laugh.
But Elvis and the boys succeed in saving her from anything remotely resembling trouble. And they manage to sing a few songs in between.
Presley can go on making two pictures a year. His fans can go on drooling over the results. But if they are like this one, all I ask is to be struck off the invitation list.
UK film review, from 1965
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sWx7IgCQeek