Abbott & Costello Go to Mars Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		3.0
Video		3.0
Audio		3.0
Extras		3.0
Overall		3.0

Abbott & Costello Go to Mars Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Brian Orndorf December 9, 2019

Trying his best while living in an orphanage, Orville (Lou Costello) makes a critical error in judgment, ending up inside a truck making a delivery to a special laboratory, meeting employee Lester (Bud Abbott), who’s loading equipment onto a rocket. Accidentally launching the ship, Orville and Lester think they’re headed to Mars, only to end up in New Orleans during Mardi Gras, allowing two crooks a chance to steal spacesuits and rob a bank. Framed for a crime they didn’t commit, Orville and Lester launch again, this time headed to Venus, meeting Queen Allura (Mari Blanchard).

The big joke of “Abbott and Costello Go to Mars” is that the comedy team never actually visits the red planet during the run time. They end up on Venus, with a stopover in New Orleans during Mardi Gras, encountering costumed creations that lead the frightened men to believe they’ve made it to Mars. The production gets a lot of mileage out of the confusion, which also cuts costs, saving the construction of sets for the last act on Venus, where Orville and Lester (along with the two crooks) are the only men on the planet, which causes all sorts of trouble for the main characters. “Abbott and Costello Go to Mars” is populated with Miss Universe contestants to play Venusian residents (including Anita Ekberg), offering some prime ogling opportunities, but it’s most interested in sci-fi-tinged encounters, putting Orville up against the strangeness and petty jealousies of this alien world.

Abbott & Costello Go to Mars Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

The AVC encoded image (1.36:1 aspect ratio) presentation does deal with a certain degree of softness, as age factors into the viewing event. The strangeness of textures remains to a mild degree, with the feature showcasing space suits, Mardi Gras costumes, and Venusian inhabitants. Special effects are open for inspection as well. Delineation is satisfactory. Source is in decent shape, encounter mild scratches and speckling.

Abbott & Costello Go to Mars Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The 2.0 DTS-HD MA sound mix does require some volume riding at first, with levels noticeably lower for "Abbott and Costello Go to Mars." Hiss and pops are detected as well. Dialogue exchanges are adequate, managing excitable performances as the actors travel to this world and beyond. Scoring supports are expected, and while definition is lacking, the spirited mood of the feature is maintained.

Abbott & Costello Go to Mars Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Image Gallery (5:08) collects film stills, publicity shots, promotional images, lobby cards, and poster art.

• Production Notes (1:33) share information on the making of "Abbott and Costello Go to Mars."

• And a Theatrical Trailer (:53, SD) is included.

Abbott & Costello Go to Mars Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

The genre potential of "Abbott and Costello Go to Mars" isn't fulfilled, which carries some disappointment, but the space adventure does a few things different when it comes to formula, working with special effects and new areas of slapstick (including weightlessness) to keep things involving while Abbott and Costello maintain the usual rhythm of their teamwork.