mark.waltz
A cross-town bus disappears in Detroit and ends up on the road to paradise in this campy farce. Bud and Lou were at the height of their fame when they got on this wild goose chase that has them as the geese and private detective as the hunter. Their journey from the mid west takes them to a south seas island with Caucasians as the native chorus girls and a strange character in Lionel Atwill who has made his home on the island studying the native customs. The minimal romantic plot involves Robert Paige and Virginia Bruce who distract from the gags and songs.The Ink Spots add some musical sequences while Abbott and Costello are on their cross country journey. A couple of native dances (Hollywood style) help stretch out the running time of the paper thin plot when the gags are on hold. A ton of familiar faces have uncredited roles here, among them Charles Lane as the perplexed bus company owner. Costumes on the island sequences seem closer to Mardi Gras celebrations rather than a Pacific Island, but as the boys would say, "What's sarong with that?"Adults will be as equally amused as younger audiences as the kids, and who could balk at the constant flow of slapstick? Irving Bacon gets the Costello treatment as a gas station attendant who is bilked out of gas money and change, while an underwater sequence with the bus, and ultimately a seal, creates some laughs as well. It's all topped by a volcano erupting where Lou is given a test to see if he is worthy to become the king of the island. This could be ranked on gag mileage for as fast as they happen, and that makes this one a winner.
dougdoepke
Outstanding A&C mix. The comedic set-ups are generally a hoot, especially the magician's props that provide a ton of laughs for the boys to play with. I love it when the cop (Demarest) has Costello repeat the burning trick not knowing Costello's an impostor. You just know what's going to happen. Also, why isn't Abbott as fat as Lou since he's entitled to half of what Lou eats, including the yummy ice cream. Poor Lou. But just wait til they get to the tropical island and Lou becomes Moola. Guess who gets all the island's shapely girls, and happily there're lots. And guess who gets to be the big chief's honorary son. Now if they can just keep the scheming Dr. Varnoff (Atwill) from ruining Lou's big slice of heaven.The musical numbers fit right in, especially the mellow Ink Spot stylings, and catch the island's version of a Las Vegas chorus line. Then too, there's that madcap finale. The writers and special effects crew must have pulled a bunch of all-nighters getting those crazy antics on screen. All in all, what great escape for audiences braving the first year of a big war. You'd never guess it from the movie craziness. But then I guess that's the point. Anyhow, the movie's still a lot of fun, even this many years later.
www1125
I found this to be one of Bud and Lou's best films. This film has several settings, from a bus, a gas station, a nightclub, a theater, a pier, a boat in the middle of the ocean, an island, a temple inside a volcano, a dangerous jungle in the middle of the island, and finally a runaway boat. Abbott and Costello, still in their prime, have some really good moments in this one, including the two of them posing as a magician in order to escape from a detective.Also on hand is horror star Lionel Atwill, who plays his usual villainous role straight in contrast to Bud and Lou's antics. The Temple/Jungle chase scene is a real highlight, and the final battle between Lou and Atwill is very well done, and finishes nicely. Above average A&C film!
IMOvies
PARDON MY SARONG (1942) ** (D: Erle C. Kenton) - So-so Abbott and Costello which suffers badly from too many musical numbers once more that have a tendency to pull you right out of the movie. Highlights include William Demarest as a frustrated cop hot on the duo's trail and some very gorgeous island girls.
AD
