Popular crooner Russ Raymond pulls a disappearing act at the height of his popularity, everyone wants the story as to where he has gone. One journalist finds him serving in the Navy under an assumed name but has to get proof for her sceptical boss. While she keeps trying to get into the base and get proof, two of the sailors have their own problems – specifically Seaman Pomeroy Watson who has romantic aspirations with one of the Andrews Sisters.
I shan't bother describing the plot more than I have above because I have already put more effort into it than the film itself does. I have seen many Abbott & Costello films and this is probably one of the ones with the thinnest plots – normally they have "straight" scenes to carry the plot but these are minimal here and the Abbott & Costello bits don't have much of a connection to the "main" narrative. This makes for an odd feeling film because it doesn't offer much to be engaged with or provide much of a structure to things. This also leaves the usual "romantic" plot with Costello hanging out there on its own – something that it cannot cope with and that doesn't work much. This lack of structure prevents the film getting a flow and instead lets it stand or fall on whatever it happens to be doing at that time.
Fortunately there are several good comedy routines with A&C which provide chuckles – none of them are classic by any means but they are still funny. The musical numbers are OK, although "give me some skin" is a weirdly memorable routine from three very white singers! Abbott & Costello work well with one another and their material. You can sort of see that they are not working with their best material but they don't let it show that much in their comic turns. Powell is dull as he has been in other similar roles while Dodd has a bit of spirit but isn't used well by the material. The Andrews Sisters may well have been big draws of the day and talented singers but they are not great actresses and indeed Patty has no chemistry or presence to speak of – really hurting the romantic thread.
Overall then this is only a so-so A&C film. The lack of structure or plot hurts it and, while it is quite amusing it is never funny enough or strong enough to cover the other gaps. Fans will get something from it of course but it is not a great film despite some amusing scenes.
I shan't bother describing the plot more than I have above because I have already put more effort into it than the film itself does. I have seen many Abbott & Costello films and this is probably one of the ones with the thinnest plots – normally they have "straight" scenes to carry the plot but these are minimal here and the Abbott & Costello bits don't have much of a connection to the "main" narrative. This makes for an odd feeling film because it doesn't offer much to be engaged with or provide much of a structure to things. This also leaves the usual "romantic" plot with Costello hanging out there on its own – something that it cannot cope with and that doesn't work much. This lack of structure prevents the film getting a flow and instead lets it stand or fall on whatever it happens to be doing at that time.
Fortunately there are several good comedy routines with A&C which provide chuckles – none of them are classic by any means but they are still funny. The musical numbers are OK, although "give me some skin" is a weirdly memorable routine from three very white singers! Abbott & Costello work well with one another and their material. You can sort of see that they are not working with their best material but they don't let it show that much in their comic turns. Powell is dull as he has been in other similar roles while Dodd has a bit of spirit but isn't used well by the material. The Andrews Sisters may well have been big draws of the day and talented singers but they are not great actresses and indeed Patty has no chemistry or presence to speak of – really hurting the romantic thread.
Overall then this is only a so-so A&C film. The lack of structure or plot hurts it and, while it is quite amusing it is never funny enough or strong enough to cover the other gaps. Fans will get something from it of course but it is not a great film despite some amusing scenes.