Watch Kissin' Cousins
- Approved
- 1964
- 1 hr 38 min
-
5.3 (2,535)
In the 1964 movie Kissin' Cousins, Elvis Presley plays double duty as two distinct characters, Josh Morgan and Jodie Tatum. Josh, a slick-and-suave military captain, is tasked with infiltrating a remote hillbilly community in the hopes of convincing them to allow the government to build a missile base on their land. Jodie, Josh's identical cousin, is the wilder and more rambunctious of the two, a guitar-toting, skirt-chasing country boy.
Upon arriving in the hills, Josh (disguised in a blonde wig and buck-toothed fake teeth) quickly falls for the lovely farmer's daughter Azalea Tatum (played by Yvonne Craig), who he believes can help him sway the Tatum clan. However, Jodie (disguised in dark hair and a beard for a portion of the film) has his sights set on the sassy Selena (played by Cynthia Pepper), a high-energy dancer who has a reputation for leading country boys on.
As Josh and Jodie find themselves each drawn to members of the Tatum clan, they also find themselves embroiled in a number of sticky situations, including an ill-fated moonshine run, a rescue mission gone awry, and a wild nighttime dance party. Along the way, they also compete in a number of wacky challenges (including a bout of wrestling alligators) in order to win the affection of their respective love interests.
The film is full of hilarious mishaps and colorful characters, including Azalea's irascible father played by Arthur O'Connell, Selena's scheming grandfather played by Jack Albertson, and a host of other hillbilly caricatures. But at its heart, Kissin' Cousins is a comedy about two city slickers learning to love and appreciate the simple life of rural America.
As is typical of Elvis Presley films of the era, Kissin' Cousins features a soundtrack full of catchy tunes performed by the King of Rock and Roll himself. Standout songs from the movie include "Smokey Mountain Boy," "One Boy, Two Little Girls," and "Barefoot Ballad."
Overall, Kissin' Cousins is a lighthearted romp through the backwoods of America, with plenty of laughs, romance, and music along the way. Whether you're a die-hard Elvis fan or just looking for a fun way to pass the time, this film is sure to please.
Kissin' Cousins is a 1964 comedy with a runtime of 1 hour and 38 minutes. It has received moderate reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 5.3.