Sexyloutak
Absolutely the worst movie.
Kien Navarro
Exactly the movie you think it is, but not the movie you want it to be.
Deanna
There are moments in this movie where the great movie it could've been peek out... They're fleeting, here, but they're worth savoring, and they happen often enough to make it worth your while.
Eric Stevenson
I'm going to say right off the bat that this is by no means a good movie. The worst part is probably how they utilize the going to Venus thing. Yeah, they don't go to Mars. It's true that they THINK they're going to Mars, but it's actually Venus. As you might have predicted, they use the joke about it being populated entirely by women. It's interesting how they first appear in New Orleans during Mardi Gras.They think the people wearing the costumes are aliens. I thought there were a lot of good jokes in this. I even liked the romantic bit they got in at the end. Okay, it's not as good as them meeting Frankenstein, but it's still okay for what it is. I'm impressed at how prolific they were. It's just alright. **1/2
simeon_flake
In one of their better 1950s features, Bud Abbott and Lou Costello are headed on a little interplanetary trip. But first, there's a little sidebar where the lovable duo land their spaceship in New Orleans in the middle of Mardi Gras--and of course, Bud and Lou think they have landed on Mars.Meanwhile, 2 crooks who just busted out of the clink, find their way onboard the ship, steal a ray gun and hold up a bank and clothing store. Of course, it won't be long before the crooks and A & C come together and thanks to Costello, blast off to the planet of Venus.And what a planet Venus turns out to be--inhabited by some very shapely bathing beauties. Certainly, these are the best looking "aliens" you will come across in a Hollywood movie.And the pleasing aesthetics of the planet Venus lead to Bud, Lou and the crooks getting banished back to Earth, where they receive a heroes welcome and a ticker tape parade.Overall, while the title of this film is rather confusing--maybe someone at Universal thought that "Abbott and Costello go to Venus" didn't have a great ring to it. Regardless, "Mars" is a good way to while away over an hour of your life.
bob the moo
A series of misadventures sees orphan Orville get onto the base for the space rocket launch and be mistaken for an imminent scientist. Lester is having none of it and puts him to work but the two of them manage to get into the rocket and accidentally launch it. They assume they have gone to Mars and the vast array of weird creatures convince them of as much. Of course they are unaware that they have actually landed in New Orleans and fit right in wearing their spacesuits. Coincidentally two escaped criminals see what is happening and understand it better than Lester and Orville and decide to take advantage.It has been years since I last watched an Abbott & Costello film and I decided recently to record some of the various movie channels and watch them. Years ago my TV options used to be limited to 4 terrestrial channels and as such my film watching was heavily influenced by the matinees that BBC2 used to put on during Saturday afternoons and the old films they used to show during school holidays – A&C being a regular part of those slots. With access to more (hell, I can even get DVD's posted to my flat) I rarely go back into the archives except for accepted "classics", which one could not really put on many of the A&C films. In hindsight, starting watching them again with this film was maybe not the best idea because it is a pretty weak affair.The basic plot allows for three or four scenarios, each of which are played out for longer than the basic gags can sustain. Of more concern though is the lack of energy and wit that the film has, it feels tired and basic throughout the whole film (which feels longer than it is). The material is lacking for sure but strong delivery can spice up things in some cases. Shame then that the majority of the cast just seem bored. Abbott and Costello both do their usual shtick but do it like men going through the motions. It perhaps isn't as bad as I make it sound but it is not either of them at their best. The rest of the cast are obvious criminals or lovely, lovely ladies – that's it. Nobody really gives the guys a lot to play off apart from a nice scene with Dr Orivia and Orville.Overall this is a basic film without much to recommend it for. Fans will appreciate it the way they do but for the casual viewers it is best left to kids rather than adults. The material is weak but it is the lack of energy in the delivery that caused problems for me, making it feel weaker as a total film. I will continue to watch some more of the A&C films but this is a bad place to start.
DKosty123
Thanks to having director Charles Lamont on this one this film actually is better than some of the other films A&C made including their much inferior A&C Meet Captain Kidd. While this one does not have Charles Laughton & a lot of terrible music to support the boys, it doesn't need either of them.This film actually holds up better because there is less music & more A&C comedy. Both are welcome here. The slowest part of the film seems to be when they land on Venus. Even though there are a lot of attractive women on Venus, things slow down there.A critic when this film came out said "Go To Mars- And About Time". That comment really isn't fair to A&C as the special effects in this are sleazy & the script is grade B, yet A&C pull it up to a B Plus without much to work with. I am sure Charles Lamont's Direction had a lot to do with that.
