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Sorry, this movie sucks

Beautiful, moving film.

I cannot think of one single thing that I would change about this film. The acting is incomparable, the directing deft, and the writing poignantly brilliant.

It’s fine. It's literally the definition of a fine movie. You’ve seen it before, you know every beat and outcome before the characters even do. Only question is how much escapism you’re looking for.

In this film, Elvis "does battle" with Shelley Fabares (again) and two other women who are determined to marry him. In fact, the entire film is about whether or not Elvis will wed. His bandmates want him to stay single so that their band will remain intact.The film includes fast cars, of course, and some of them are impressive, but the big road race scene feels like a cartoon.Carl Betz, who plays Shelley Fabares' father in "The Donna Reed Show" from 1958-1966, plays her father in this film as well.Sometimes I cringe when films include those scenes on the beach or around the pool where bunches of bikini-clad girls go-go dance, but it did not bother me in this film. The dancing styles are like a time capsule of current choreography.Some of the supporting cast are used for (more) comic relief. The comedy is fairly sophomoric, but Jack Mullaney and Jimmy Hawkins have some genuinely funny moments.Does anyone care if Elvis marries or who he marries? Not really. Well, maybe his young female fans who want to carry the illusion of his availability. Maybe that's why the film ends as it does.

Band singer/race driver Mike McCoy (Elvis Presley) must choose between marrying a beautiful rich girl and driving her father's car in a prestigious race.The script was written by Theodore Flicker and George Kirgo. They originally pitched the idea of a film based on Presley's life, but this was vetoed by Col. Parker, who had control of Presley's career. Working titles included "Never Say No", "Never Say Yes", and "The Singing Racing Car Driver". Flicker eventually left the project to work on "The President's Analyst" and Michael Hoey worked on the script uncredited with Kirgo.Elvis in the 1960s is already a step away from the wholesome Elvis of the 1950s. Girls are shaking their bottoms, Elvis is offering to spank them... and multiple women are trying to get Elvis to go to bed with them. This is the free love 1960s with Elvis running the show. I have to wonder if this somehow influenced "Speed Racer", as that show came out shortly after and featured a very similar car.

Released in 1966, "Spinout" was Elvis' 22nd movie. He would do nine more in the next three years before closing the door on cinema forever. I've seen most of his films and own many. Some are better than others depending on what you want. "Roustabout" (1964) is my favorite simply because it has the most compelling story, and the story – including the way it's told – is the most important part of a movie in my book.In "Spinout" Elvis plays Mike McCoy, a singer/guitarist of a band that lives like well-to-do gypsies, living a nomadic life in tents. Amazingly, he also races on the side with his band members assisting in the pits. As usual, every woman is attracted to the character played by Elvis (McCoy). In this case there are three who desperately want to marry him: the tomboy drummer of his band (Deborah Walley), a spoiled heiress (Shelley Fabares) and a woman writing a book on him (Diane McBain). Carl Betz plays the heiress' rich father who wants McCoy to drive his fancy new racecar, but also to stay away from his daughter. Jack Mullaney, Will Hutchins and Dodie Marshall are also on hand.These types of movies aren't meant to be taken too seriously. They exist as vehicles for Elvis' talents and to entertain with fun 60's shenanigans. You're not supposed to scrutinize 'em too closely. But sometimes the writing is so stoo-pid it takes you right out of the story. One quick example from "Spinout": McCoy (Elvis) wants to temporarily move into the mansion next door to the heiress and her rich dad so he charms the elderly neighbors and convinces them to immediately go on a second honeymoon while he and his bandmates – perfect strangers – stay at their mansion. Why sure! Elements like this make it seem like they enlisted a 14 year-old to assist with the script. Still, "Spinout" fills the bill if you need a brainless-but-amusing mid-60's fix. The film runs 90 minutes and was shot in Southern California. GRADE: C

Spinout is somewhere in the middle of the pack of the Elvis Presley cinema output. It's an amiable comedy with the King about a singer with a group who is a celebrity racer. Along the lines of Paul Newman before and Tom Cruise afterwards. I don't include Steve McQueen because that man was serious about the sport and had he entered it earlier might have had that as a career.Anyway Elvis is the target of three women with matrimony on their minds. Rich girl Shelley Fabares, Jacqueline Susann like author Diane McBain, and the drummer in the King's own group, Deborah Walley who is a gourmet cook on the side.As usual Colonel Tom Parker got quality help for his boy behind and in front of the camera. Norman Taurog ended his career directing a series of Presley pictures and this is one of them. Such movie veterans as Frederic Worlock and Cecil Kellaway have small roles and this is the farewell big screen appearance of Una Merkel. Also in the cast is Carl Betz once again playing Shelley Fabares father as he did on the Donna Reed Show. Will Hutchins, television's Sugarfoot is also around as a policeman who appreciates good cooking and Jack Mullaney and Jimmy Hawkins are the other members of Elvis's group. Note that they play electric guitars or simulate playing them while Elvis sticks with a regular model.Of course Spinout ends with the Big Race and I don't think I have to tell you who wins, but the race itself is 3/4 of the fun. No big songs came out of the score for Elvis, but he acquits himself in the vocal and comedy department. Spinout should please his fans.