Ma and Pa Kettle at Waikiki

I wonder why there is such a persistent tradition in movies to depict low class folks comically.

Its usually done with apparent sympathy to the honest or simple values of our rubes, and the only people treated harshly are the rich (and bankers). "Beverly Hillbillies" was the extreme, I guess.

But the root of the thing is a sort of white minstrel mentality. While we chuckle over the dumbness (and in this case laziness) of these trailer park dummies (who seem to do nothing but rut and make more), isn't the point that we are superior?

Ted's Evaluation -- 1 of 3: You can find something better to do with this part of your life.

This happens to be my personal favorite in the entire "Ma and Pa Kettle" series. I especially loved how the Kettle's met the Lotuses, a Hawaiian family, which is almost a mirror image of their own (the only differences are there are only twelve Lotus children as opposed to the fifteen Kettle kids and they aren't as rowdy as Ma and Pa's brood). Unfortunately, this is also the last appearance of Percy Kilbride in the role of Pa Kettle. His gentle humor was one of the ingredients that helped make this series what it was and after he left the series went downhill from there. At least he went out on a high note with this film.

Although this was the last movie that Pa Kettle was in it was a funny one. When Pa Kettle gets kidnapped and Ma starts looking for him it is so funny how after a while she is pulling the two wheeled cart that the local boy was once pulling her in. Then it gets really funny when both Ma and Pa meet that native lady and her husband who have 12 children. I think that native man and his wife are Hawaian versions of Ma and Pa because the Husband is as lazy as Pa Kettle and the Wife is as hard working as Ma Kettle. Plus the Children of the two native people match up to the 12 younger Kettle children because both sets of children have weapons to fight with. The Kettle Children have the Sling Shots to shoot with and the Hawaian children have things to trow coconuts with. This is one funny movie that should be watched over and over.

For all intents and purposes, this is the last "true" Ma and Pa Kettle film -- because it's the last to feature Percy Kilbride as Pa. As a last hurrah for Kilbride and Marjorie Main together, it's good fun and contains all the gags and charm that made the series so easy to like. Main is back to her rough and feisty self again as Ma, after acting a bit more refined in lesser recent offerings like AT THE FAIR and ON VACATION. There were a couple more Kettle movies to come (without Kilbride) but this one is a perfect way to end on a high note. Also features Lori Nelson (REVENGE OF THE CREATURE) as the Kettles' daughter. *** out of ****

"Ma and Pa Kettle at Waikiki" is a fun movie. It's a solid entry in the series. There are quite a few laughs and a ton of goodwill. As usual, Marjorie Main and Percy Kilbride deliver the goods. The both get a lot of laughs. The supporting cast is good too. At 79 minutes "Ma and Pa Kettle at Waikiki" doesn't come close to wearing out its welcome. I enjoyed this installment and I plan on watching it again real soon.