Change of Habit

source: Change of Habit

This last outing for Presley was his last attempt at making a drama. Presley fans over the years made it perfectly clear they did not want an "actor" named Elvis, they only wanted Elvis the "singer." Elvis obviously just goes through the motions to get this film over and onto bigger and better things such as future live performances. Elvis styles a new non-greaser looking hairdo and sings a couple of songs to make up for the bad acting performance. Mary Tyler Moore supports the cast with her usual "good girl" type character and keeps the film staying within the "Presley" film expectations.This last Elvis try was a flop and the least amount mentioned of it the better.

Elvis Presley's 31st and last film at least tries to go into different territory as he plays a doctor working in a free clinic (!) working to help underprivileged people in the ghetto. Mary Tyler Moore is one of three nuns (her friends are singer Barbara McNair and newcomer Jane Elliot) who decide to forsake their traditional catholic garb and dress conventionally in order to go "undercover" as normal women to assist Presley in his cause. Understandably, this sets up the opportunity for them to get into all kinds of trouble in the hood, not the least of which is that Mary begins to fall for Dr. Elvis and must decide between Jesus or The King. Presley only sings a few songs in this one, the best of which is the very bouncy "Rubberneckin' ", which I believe was revamped decades later to become a popular song all over again. Many people laugh at the idea of Moore as a Sister, but it works for me. Elvis' performance varies from time to time between rusty and competent, and at times I could accept him as a kind-hearted young doctor. It's refreshing to get something outside the usual Presley formula at this stage of his career, and the movie deals with social issues that were relevant at the time, though come off as rather stereotypical and politically incorrect when viewed today (and so what, the movie occurs in 1969). Some things are far-fetched -- did you know you could cure an autistic child by just holding her while she kicks and screams in rage, all the while assuring her "I love you"...? Even so, it's a strong scene in the film. Ed Asner, who would later star along with Mary in the classic "Mary Tyler Moore Show", has some scenes near the end as a policeman. **1/2 out of ****

It seems a shame that someone with such talent as Elvis Presley consistently got such garbage for scripts. This movie shows what was still there, what had been there all along, if the material had just been a little better. This movie recalls the gutsy performances given in Jailhouse Rock and King Creole. A stronger support cast doesn't hurt either, and all the players seem equally committed to doing the film justice. Perfect, no. But overall, this is a very watchable movie, and testament to the talent that Elvis had.

This is the last of Elvis' movies and at least I can give him some credit for trying something different as well as decent acting on his part. However, other than that, this is a pretty dumb movie that is fun to watch because of its camp value. Most of the problem is the casting, the rest has to do with trying to make the film timely and "with it", as this movie is tragically un-hip! Mary Tyler Moore stars, of all things, as a nun! She and two other "cool" nuns enter the "hood" to help nice Dr. Elvis with his free clinic. The catch is that they are incognito and no one there knows they are already spoken for, so to speak. Naturally, good Dr. Elvis and sweet Sister Moore are taken with each other and sparks begin to fly...until Elvis discovers the truth AND Moore needs to decide whether or not to remain marry the king of the universe or the king or rock and roll. Along the way, there are lots and lots of subplots--most of which are amazingly silly. One that COULD have been interesting involves a little girl with autism. Unfortunately, just about everything about how they treat her and why she is afflicted is wrong, as they claim the autism is caused by early childhood abandonment(!) and that to cure it they need to use something akin to "compression therapy". In other words, the doctor and nurse hold the autistic kid and force her to accept their love--thereby effecting a miracle cure! Using this same illogic, such "treatments" could also make blind kids see and possibly effect world peace!! Sadly, this misinformation probably did a lot of harm to those who watched the film and had no idea it was all mumbo-jumbo. Additional plot elements involve two old prudes who inexplicably hate the nuns, a priest with all the charm of Idi Amin, a gangster and his thugs, a nun who decides to give it all up to become a political agitator and a guy with a speech impediment who is a rapist who just needs a bit of understanding! Because practically every imaginable social ill is thrown into the film "kitchen sink style" and the answers seem so pat, viewers can't help but laugh at the whole thing--as well as the idea of Mary Tyler Moore as a nun OR her falling in love with Dr. Elvis--who has a practice in the ghetto! Talk about incongruous plot elements!! The net effect of all this dropped within an incredibly sterilized "hood" is truly funny when seen today--despite the producers best efforts to make a film that said something about social ills. However, for bad movie fans, this film is a must, as it provides many unintended laughs. You know an Elvis Presley movie is bad when his acting is the best thing about the film!!! By the way, there are two interesting elements about the film I didn't yet mention. First, Ed Asner makes an appearance late in the film and it's neat to see him and Moore together a year before they appeared together on THE MARY TYLER MOORE SHOW. Second, the film has a very vague ending and this wasn't a bad thing, as it allowed the audience members to wonder how it would all work out--though I am sure some were disappointed by the lack of a clear resolution.

This film is offensive to the core for autistic people. Its dated and the cast are out of there depth. Holding Therapy is an extremely traumatic experience for autistic people. It has also proven to be a non-effective tool to add. This film really does show its age. Hollywood shows its ignorance with style once again.

Unlike earlier films featuring Elvis Presley that involve mostly singing, partying, playing the hero, and getting the girl, he actually plays more serious roles here. Nevertheless, this movie is underrated. At the time it was released, the film was probably used as a social-political instrument for change but watching it now refreshingly brings the audience back to a time when people thought things differently and society was going through tumultuous social changes. This film captures the full spirit of its time and really sets the stage for the dawn of the 1970's. It is also a surprise that so many reviewers do not mention much about this side of the film as it probably was the intention of its directors.

A sad lament among fans of Elvis Presley is that his handlers (read: Col. Tom Parker) thought so little of him and his talents that they put him in piles of cinematic dung such as "Paradise Hawaiian Style" and turned down movies like "A Star is Born". If you've spent your life watching "Girls Girls Girls" and "Kid Galahad" then seeing a "normal" Elvis sans jumpsuit or guitar or a bevy of bikini-clad babes may jar you. However, "Change of Habit" is not one of his mindless musicals. It is instead an attempt at a "real" movie, and Elvis fares well. It is odd to see Mary Tyler Moore as his love interest, but it's odd to see her as anything but Laura Petrie to me anyway. A little better script, maybe a different actress as his foil, and "Change of Habit" would have been a better movie. But when you compare it to "Clambake" ....well.....that's not really fair is it?

In addition to a dynamite cast, the plot line for the 60's era movie were actually right on. That was a time when a lot of experimenting with no Habits, social issues, etc. were happening in the wake of the Second Vatican Council. Lots of confusion, lots of social awareness, plus schisms in the attitudes towards change. I saw much of what was in this movie in some inner cities, such as Houston, so it felt like a flash from the past. Sure, there's a bit of fluff and Hollywood, but you'd be amazed how very real it is. Over 35 years later, there's still controversy over the changes and upheaval of the 60's and 70's in the Church. Enjoy the movie, see it as a blast from the past, and know that many important issues were covered that are still addressed today.

Elvis Presley made his last acting appearance in this film, playing a doctor opposite nun, Mary Tyler Moore. The story revolves around 3 nuns abandoning their habits, and adopting 'street clothes' to work as nurses in a ghetto practise run by Dr.John Carpenter (Elvis). There are some good scenes where Elvis is allowed to show some acting skills for which he was never really appreciated, mostly due to the woeful scripts he endured during his acting career. On the few occasions that he was given good material, his acting talents shone through. (Most notably in King Creole). At this point in Elvis' career it is obvious that he was relishing completing his 10 year film contract as he had become completely disillusioned with the film industry and the bad material he had been given for the best part of 6 years. The good moments in this film only emphasise the disappointment that Elvis' film career did not reach it's full potential, and we can only ponder what might have happened had he accepted roles in films such as Midnight Cowboy or A Star is Born with Barbra Streisand, both of which were offered to him.