Save your money for something good and enjoyable

Great Film overall

It's entirely possible that sending the audience out feeling lousy was intentional

This story has more twists and turns than a second-rate soap opera.

Although such shows as The Beverly Hillbillies and Petticoat Junction were topping TV ratings when Kissin' Cousins was released to the movie-going public in 1964, I think this film was taken from an older hillbilly source. The environs here look a whole lot like Al Capp's Dogpatch and like in the movie Lil Abner the natives are having some trouble with our military. Unlike Dogpatch which has been selected for nuclear annihilation because it's so useless, the property which a family named Tatum owns is wanted for an ICBM silo. But the Air Force can't get near the place to negotiate a deal. Arthur O'Connell and Glenda Farrell don't like the government because the very word means revenuers. General Donald Woods selects Captain Jack Albertson to close the deal and Albertson selects Lieutenant Elvis Presley as his aide. Elvis has good qualifications, he's a distant cousin of the Tatums and in fact has a look-a-like relative also played by Elvis Presley in dyed blond hair.The film is about the Air Force Elvis and Albertson trying to close the deal and how they do it eventually. You didn't really think they wouldn't? Elvis has only one really good number here, on the way up to the Tatums he sings an ode to the region called Smoky Mountain Boy. That should have done better for him than it did in record sales.Otherwise the film is somewhat entertaining, but not terribly original. It looks like outtakes from Green Acres and Lil Abner.

This movie, tho not one of Elvis' best, certainly isn't as bad as some reviews have stated. Those who say it is Elvis' worst film have obviously never seen "Double Trouble", "Clambake", "Speedway", "Stay Away Joe" and a couple others. The movie is fun, if not brilliant and the blond wig he wore is tacky and a couple of the songs are pretty horrible (Barefoot Ballad). However, the supporting cast is quite good headed up by Oscar winning actor Jack Albertson. It also features the wonderful character actor Arthur O'Connell and Glenda Farrell. Batgirl from TV's "Batman", Yvonne Craig, is in fine form as Elvis' love interest. As for the music, the title tracks are pretty good. "Tender Feeling" is a wonderful ballad and "Catching on Fast" is a lively rock tinged number that goes down quite well. It is also apparent from many of those who did not like the film at all that they did not pay attention as they all claim one of the Elvis characters, Josh, is an army officer. Not so. He is an air force officer. Go back and look folks. At any rate, I've seen every Elvis movie ever made many times and this one is worth a watch.

Not only does Kissin' Cousins contain a bad script for Presley but this Presley outing contained a bad script for two Presley's. This movie was made in 17 days and it is obvious that the old saying is true, "put forth your best effort or it will be a flop." Presley plays two character's in this 1964 attempt, date's his own cousins and sings to everyone about being barefoot. Not a movie for academy award fans but Presley fans will enjoy. Presley couldn't have been proud of this one.If you decide to watch this movie just be careful not to fall in love with your cousins after you watch it.You may be a redneck, if you go to a family BBQ to find a date.

Would Elvis in dual roles double the fun? Divide it by two is closer to the truth. This time he is both an air force lieutenant and a blond hillbilly. He manages to fall in love while belting a few country tunes such as "Smokey Mountain Boy" and "Barefoot Ballad"