vincentlynch-moonoi This film -- like most of Bing's films from the 1930s -- is eclipsed from the bigger budget Crosby films of the 1940s. Nevertheless, this is a rather pleasant diversion that includes several Hawaiian themed songs that were forever thereafter associated with Crosby.Here, Crosby plays a publicity agent for a pineapple company whose latest publicity stunt -- a young lady (Shirley Ross) from the continental United States -- is chosen as the "Pineapple Girl" and is given "3 romantic weeks" in Hawaii; which she finds rather rather dissatisfying and she decides to head back stateside, thus ruining the publicity campaign. Crosby to the rescue, but he misidentifies the girl in question, thinking it is Martha Raye. Meanwhile, by pure coincidence, he falls in love with Ross, not knowing she is the actual "Pineapple Girl".There's a lot of nonsense about a sacred pearl stolen from a local shrine. It's kind of a dead end part of the plot, although it does give us a chance to see a very young Anthony Quinn as a native Hawaiian. There's more nonsense about a pig. Don't ask.In the end -- of course -- Crosby wins Ross, only then finding out she is the real "Pineapple Girl".Among the great songs here are "Blue Hawaii" and "Sweet Leilani".Crosby is...well...Crosby. No great acting here. Just the pleasant personality audiences enjoyed back then. Ross is fairly good here, too. Martha Raye contributes her comic relief. Bob Burns, as Crosby's buddy, also provides comic relief...although I found him more annoying than humorous.It's a decent film. Better than "Double Or Nothing", which is often on the same DVD disc. Probably more for Crosby fans, although the on location outdoor photography makes the Hollywood scenes believable as Hawaii in the 1930s.

MikeMagi How many clichés can you pack into one movie? Paramount answered the question with "Waikiki Wedding." You've got lithe dancing natives (a few of whom actually look like they're from the islands,) miles of leis, a mysterious black pearl, a volcano that's about to blow, a contest to name Miss Pineapple and even Anthony Quinn (yep, that Anthony Quinn) as a local roustabout. All that's missing are the nuptials of the title. Bing Crosby saunters through the stereotypes as an idea man for a fruit company who spends most of his time lolling on his sailboat, dreaming up promotion stunts and singing island refrains. Toss in a pair of walking clichés -- Martha Raye and Bob Burns -- and appreciate that this was what Crosby had to go through before the studio recognized his potential.

TheLittleSongbird The story and direction do slacken a tad towards the end and Anthony Quinn does look rather lost in an early role. But Waikiki Wedding is still a fun film that will cheer anybody up after a hard day. It is lovingly photographed and the costumes and sets do look beautiful even by today's standards. The incidental score is whimsical and catchy, and the songs are wonderful with Sweet Leilani, A Little Hula Heaven and especially Blue Hawaii being classics. The choreography is sharp and not too flashy but never simplistic, suiting the film just fine. Waikiki Wedding is smartly and wittily scripted and the story is not too complicated, moves swiftly and has a lot of charm and heart. Bing Crosby looks very relaxed here and gives a likewise charming performance. As ever, his distinctive voice sounds fabulous. The very attractive Shirley Ross has a voice like heaven and lights up the screen, sharing good chemistry with Crosby, she's virtually forgotten now and that's a shame. The performances of Bob Burns and Martha Raye won't be everyone's cup of tea but I found them a lot of fun with Raye particularly enjoying herself. Nice to see George Barbier too. All in all, very entertaining and charming particularly notable for the songs. 8/10 Bethany Cox

davidgarnes This is a good film to watch late at night, when you're too tired to concentrate on a heavy plot and are ready for some pretty music and comic diversion. The two songs you'll immediately recognize are "Blue Hawaii" and "Sweet Lelani" (which won the Oscar that year).Bing Crosby is his usual agreeable self, in great voice, inhabiting the screen but not his character, really. His seemingly effortless singing is,as always,mellow and fine. Shirley Ross (she of "Thanks for the Memory" with Bob Hope) has a very appealing, intelligent and charming way with a line and a song. Bob Burns is there for comic relief, as is a young Martha Raye, who is, well, Martha Raye. You either like her or you don't...but she does manage a few laughs with her very physical antics and double-take expressions. A very lithe and boyish Anthony Quinn, playing one of his early "native" roles (here as a Polynesian), pops up in several scenes...years before his own ascendancy to super-stardom.It's the music and the lavish Hollywood-Hawaiian sets and luau scenes that make this a very pleasant movie to watch.