Some critics in 1964 were lukewarm about "Viva Las Vegas", such as one for "The New York Times", who wrote: ""Viva Las Vegas", the new Elvis Presley vehicle, is about as pleasant and unimportant as a banana split." However, many others deduced the reasons why many members of the North American public liked the movie so much. "Variety" stated in its review: "Beyond several flashy musical numbers, a glamorous locale, and one electrifying auto race sequence, the production is a pretty trite and 'heavyhanded' affair". Critical reaction notwithstanding, "Viva Las Vegas" has become one of Elvis Presley's most popular and iconic films.