Reinventing Elvis: The ’68 Comeback [2023] – on Paramount Plus

Reinventing Elvis is a better sales pitch about Presley than any other possible marketing campaign could ever propose.

In fact, director and writer John Scheinfeld managed to create the impossible with this documentary: A warm musical wormhole, capturing a moment when a legend was rediscovering his own genius and sharing it with a world that had nearly forgotten him.

I loved this documentary because it felt genuine, even when they really tried to villainize Presley’s manager. Instead of getting a glamourized retelling that makes no sense, we got an idea of what was happening in Presley’s during the making of the special. Notably, the stories by those who were involved with the special are vibrantly brought to life with beautifully restored clips and photos of Elvis during the special, which are, unquestionably, the highlights of the movie.

The tantalizing history of the Elvis TV “comeback” special of 1968 is told and then retold from every conceivable angle in this earnest and all-encompassing documentary.

As a viewer, I urge Hollywood to give us more real content, and less of a dolled-up story that falls flat. Yes, I loved Austin Butler in Elvis, and Tom Hanks was creepy as hell, but the movie was too “over produced” and ended up being annoying if not boring.

Should You Watch It?

By focusing on a couple of months in Elvis’ life, we get a better idea of who the singer is than the whole movie of the same name.

Where Can I Watch It?

You can stream Reinventing Elvis: The ’68 Comeback on Paramount+.