Review of Bud Abbott Lou Costello Meet the Killer Boris Karloff

I'm only slightly familiar with Abbott and Costello, but I enjoy seeing their movies from time to time, particularly those involving Universal horror film stars like Bela Lugosi, Lon Chaney Jr., and - in this case - Boris Karloff.

But, as other reviewers have noted, Karloff has only a glorified cameo in this movie. I read online that he was added to the film at a late stage, replacing another character, and you can really tell; he feels shoehorned into the plot, and in fact his presence muddles and confuses the resolution of the major conflict!

To be perfectly blunt, the whole plot feels muddled. It's not very well-developed, yet it's also complicated enough to distract from the jokes. There are simply tons of characters who drift in for a scene or two and then disappear...it's most disconcerting.

But I suppose all that stuff doesn't really matter, since Costello is funny and cute and Abbott makes a good straight man. Some of the gags are quite good, and the chase sequence in the caverns boasts some great sets and funny slapstick moments.

So it ain't no classic in the final analysis, but I've passed dull evenings with plenty of worse movies.