You'd think that funny men Harvey Korman and Buddy Hackett would be perfect as Bud Abbott and Lou Costello but a real lack of chemistry between them, a weak script and even more important unsympathetic characterizations turns this TV bio drama with comic moments into a big fiasco. Perhaps the truths about our great legends don't deserve being told, especially when the narrative about them rings false, and this shows the worst elements about them, particularly Hackett's Lou. Michelle Lee plays his wife and they have about as much chemistry together as Macy's and Gimbles.
You've got Arte Johnson as their manager and Robert Reed as the film producer whom Costello tells off in their first interview (for what was not their first film) and it rings totally false. In fact, nothing about Hackett's performance rings true. He's not "a bad boy", just an obnoxious parody of a funny man who may have had his difficulties but would be kicked out of show business immediately for acting as he does here. He seems to be emulating Jackie Gleason as Ralph Kramden rather than Lou, and Korman seems embarrassed to be there for Hackett's constant bellowing. When supposed funny men doing "Who's on First?" ends up a dud you know the film surrounding this is, and the film ends up being ridiculously painful to try to get through.
You've got Arte Johnson as their manager and Robert Reed as the film producer whom Costello tells off in their first interview (for what was not their first film) and it rings totally false. In fact, nothing about Hackett's performance rings true. He's not "a bad boy", just an obnoxious parody of a funny man who may have had his difficulties but would be kicked out of show business immediately for acting as he does here. He seems to be emulating Jackie Gleason as Ralph Kramden rather than Lou, and Korman seems embarrassed to be there for Hackett's constant bellowing. When supposed funny men doing "Who's on First?" ends up a dud you know the film surrounding this is, and the film ends up being ridiculously painful to try to get through.