Verdict
Summary
The second of the “Abbot and Costello Meet … ” movies, Bud Abbott and Lou Costello Meet the Invisible Man is even funnier than the previous entry where they met Dracula, Frankenstein’s monster, and the Wolf Man. While the previous film was incredibly busy, having the two funny guys running laps in circles around the mega trio of monsters, this time they’re much more focused on the comedy, with great little tidbits and a funny climax in the boxing ring.
Plot:
Two private detectives meet and assist an invisible man, causing problems with the mob and the police.
Review:
Framed for a crime he didn’t commit, a tough gangster named Tommy Nelson (Arthur Franz) eludes authorities by injecting himself with an experimental invisibility serum. In order to clear his name, he goes to the first and last chance idea he has: Hire two brand new private detectives – Lou (Lou Costello) and Bud (Bud Abbott) – to help him clear his name. But, obviously, it’s going to be an extremely challenging task for the two clueless detectives because they’re new to the solving-crime gig, and also because they can’t see their client! When cops and gangsters start clouding around Bud and Lou’s periphery, trying to figure out where Tommy is hiding, a coup for the trio happens when Tommy helps make it seem like Lou is a dynamo boxer and tough guy, which ends up having the opposite desired effect and lands Lou a huge opportunity in the boxing ring where he’s expected to lose the fight and gain the mob a huge net of negative bets, but when Tommy as the invisible force to be reckoned with alongside Lou in the ring, Lou becomes a champ! All conflicts are settled, and Tommy is cleared of the frame-up, all thanks to the bumbling duo Lou and Bud!
The second of the “Abbot and Costello Meet … ” movies, Bud Abbott and Lou Costello Meet the Invisible Man is even funnier than the previous entry where they met Dracula, Frankenstein’s monster, and the Wolf Man. While the previous film was incredibly busy, having the two funny guys running laps in circles around the mega trio of monsters, this time they’re much more focused on the comedy, with great little tidbits and a funny climax in the boxing ring. The effects are pretty good too, but what makes the movie better overall is that it’s tighter and more focused on the comedy. Not necessarily a “classic,” but certainly a memorable entry in the Abbott / Costello series, this one is a hoot. From director Charles Lamont.
Kino Lorber has just released a 4K disc of this one, and it outshines all previous releases with a new 4K scan from the original camera negative, looking sharper and more clear than ever before. Fans of the series should add this one to their collection. It comes with two audio commentaries, and the trailer, plus a slipcover.
