Abbott and Costello Meet the Invisible Man Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		3.0
Video		3.5
Audio		3.5
Extras		0.0
Overall		3.0

Abbott and Costello Meet the Invisible Man Blu-ray Movie Review

"The voice is familiar but I can't quite place the face."

Reviewed by Justin Dekker February 1, 2024

1951's 'Abbott and Costello Meet the Invisible Man' returns to Blu-ray as part of the massive 'Universal Classic Monsters Complete 30-Film Collection' which includes all of the timeless monster movies from 1931's 'Dracula' forward. All of the original films from the timeless and unforgettable Dracula, Frankenstein, The Wolfman, The Mummy, Invisible Man, The Creature from the Black Lagoon, and The Phantom of the Opera, are included here on 24 Blu-ray discs. All of the legacy features from the previous collections are included here, giving fans hours of content to pour over once the movies are over. Also included is a 48-page book featuring writing on the classic monsters as well as actors and people behind the scenes that brought them to life. This disc does not have a main menu and will automatically begin playing after the disc is inserted.

Dugan's Detective Training is releasing their graduating class of 1951 out into the world. Among their ranks are none other than Bud Alexander (Bud Abbott) and Louis Francis (Lou Costello). The new graduates start on the night shift at the MacQuillan Detective Agency and barely get their diplomas hung on the wall before their first client, escaped murderer Tommy Nelson (Arthur Franz), walks in the door. He's looking for help to clear his name. A short while later, when cornered by the police he takes some of a new batch of the original formula that John Griffin took, despite the risk of insanity and never turning visible again, intent on clearing his name.

Given that the film is titled Abbott and Costello Meet the Invisible Man, the film gives the comedy duo the lion's share of the film's running time, with the focus typically on Lou Costello and his specific brand of silliness and physical humor. He has an exasperating meeting with a police psychiatrist which leads to everyone but him becoming hypnotized. Later, as a plan emerges to trap the real killer, Lou gets into some hilarious boxing training assisted by the invisible Tommy. Bud, ever the straight man, is the butt of numerous jokes. He takes quite a few kicks and punches from Tommy when he doesn't believe he's turned invisible, and a squirt gun to the eye when he attempts to spy on Lou and a young lady. None of that stops the frequent bouts of invisible shenanigans as the invisible Tommy eats, drinks champagne, smokes, hectors waiters, and starts bar fights. However, not keen on turning over new ground here, many of the invisible activities are food-related, with frequent shots of the invisible Tommy eating and drinking, or at the very least interacting with food, bottles, and glasses. It's entertaining for what it is, but it grows repetitious and stale as the film progresses. While much of this is carried off well enough from an effects perspective, there are some sketchy moments where the actor is faintly visible, such as the scene where he plays cards with Bud and Lou. In other instances, scenes from The Invisible Man Returns are reused, such as when Dr. Gray works with a guinea pig and makes it disappear, the shots of the invisible animals in their cages, and the scene where The Invisible Man removes clothing from a suitcase left for him out in the woods. Transfusions are again the key to making our hero visible, and when Tommy undergoes the procedure, the impressive footage of the body reappearing from the inside out is also culled from that picture. Those scenes are handled well enough and their integration is mostly seamless, but I'm never a fan of recycled footage.

Abbott and Costello Meet the Invisible Man Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Detail is typically quite good in Abbott and Costello Meet the Invisible Man, especially on costumes like the many tweed coats and jackets which consistently look appealingly fibrous. near the end of the film, Bud's sweater also show a reasonably detectable amount of frizzing and pilling. Boots Marsden's (Adele Jergens) elaborate full-length lacey and sequined nightgown is the most impressive costume on the screen and its intricacies are well displayed. Facial features and hair also yield a fair amount of detail, with fine lines and wrinkles able to be picked out. Few flyaway hairs are able to be detected in the heavily managed vintage hairstyles of both women and men. Soft shots occasionally surface but they are infrequent and short. Some of the softness is found in close-ups of female actors as was the style in that era but others have no obvious systematic or stylistic explanation. Black levels are good but can sometimes absorb detail, while whites tend more toward a very light grey. Grain is present but resolves naturally and is never obtrusive or noisy.

Abbott and Costello Meet the Invisible Man Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The English DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 Mono track included here isn't a knockout, but it does the job. Voices are faithfully and realistically rendered. They are always clearly and cleanly reproduced and are never overpowered by music or sound effects. Special effects are well handled within the constraints of the track. The frequent punches and kicks are a bit thin as is typical for the era, but gunshots are more on par with what modern viewers would expect. Music is capably handled and never truly given the chance to dominate. The bass level is low, but strings and horns never rise to the level of being shrill. English SDH subtitles are also available.

Abbott and Costello Meet the Invisible Man Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

The sole extra that is included is a theatrical trailer (1:58) that can only be accessed via the "Pop-Up Menu" button.

Abbott and Costello Meet the Invisible Man Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Abbott and Costello Meet the Invisible Manis fairly consistent with what fans of the Abbott and Costello Meet ... series would anticipate. It's not concerned with having an intricate plot or character development, trading instead in broad and stereotypical characters that orbit around the well-established schtick of Bud Abbott and Lou Costello. Like the punches in the film's climax, not every joke lands, but there are so many of them that enough of them do. It's a solid mix of sight gags, physical comedy, and quick witticisms from a simpler era, this time mixed in with a healthy dose of invisible hijinks. Abbott and Costello fans, and fans of vintage 1950s comedy, will surely want to give this disc a look.