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Viva Las Vegas

  • Is it age appropriate?

    About our ratings

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    Not age appropriate for kids under 9, age appropriate for kids over 10; suggested age 9.

  • Is it any good?

    4.0

  • Common Sense says

    Vegas ad is a nonstop song-and-dance delight.

Why We Rated This iffy for Ages 9–10

The good stuff

  • Messages:

    While he's flirtatious, Lucky is still an all-around decent guy who's even friends with his romantic rival. Ann-Margaret's heroine is spunky and nobody's fool (she proves she can even outshoot and out motorcycle-ride Elvis), but she acts the klutz in a race-car garage in one demeaning scene. All other women are objectified showgirl fantasies, practically window-shopped by the men.
 

What to watch out for

  • Violence:

    Elvis fires sixguns in the air to calm down a raucous saloon. Cars wipe out during a grand prix race.

  • Sex:

    Girls in bikinis at poolside and occasionally slinky showgirl numbers. Nothing explicit, though.

  • Language:

    Not an issue.

  • Consumerism:

    Practically a tourist ad for the Las Vegas, Nevada area and attractions, with the qualifier that most of the casinos and clubs pictured by name have since closed.

  • Drinking, drugs, & smoking:

    Recreational drinking and rowdiness. Rusty's dad talks about getting "lit up" on booze.
 

What Parents Need to Know

About Viva Las Vegas

Parents need to know that this fluffy escapism could pretty much be an advertisement for Las Vegas and the good times Nevada's tourist destination offers, including betting, drinking, and dangerous race-car driving. It's all pretty much harmless here -- if there were such things as topless showgirls, gambling addiction, and legal bordellos you'd never know it from watching this movie.

Did this review help you decide?

Families Can Talk About

  • Families can talk about the attitude Lucky has toward his competitor, the mildly snooty Count Cancini. They are rivals both for the racing championship and the lovely girl, but instead of being enemies they get along like best pals. Why don't more movies show this kind of chivalrous sportsmanship? Some critics think this is the only musical in which Elvis was matched with a leading-lady love interest who could equal him in charisma and brazen charm. Do you find the Ann-Margaret character on equal footing with the hero, or a fantasy girl typical of Elvis pictures? How does this compare to light musical fare kids watch today, like High School Musical?
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Most Recent Reviews

  1. Kid Reviewer Age 1
    doggy1
    Lives in North Carolina
    I rate this title on for age 6 and give it 4.0
    • My highlights are:
    • Positive messages
    • Good role models

    epp doggies i LOVE elvis

    This review...

    Helped me decide | Had useful details | Read my mind
    Flag as inappropriate

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