Abbott and Costello Meet the Mummy (1955)

(On TV, October 2020) Abbot and Costello movies don’t deal in subtleties, and so their chance to meet the Mummy (third in their trilogy of Universal Movie Monsters team-ups) is a full-bore excuse to indulge in as many Egyptian stereotypes as possible. The comic intent of Abbott and Costello Meet the Mummy helps make it as inoffensive as possible, although we’re once again deep in pyramids, European expat clubs and old-school adventurer hats. It’s also an excuse for them to run through variations of their comic routines, where it’s the “pick/spade” verbal jousting that echoes their famous “who’s on first” number, or the “slipping the mickey” routine from an earlier film. There’s a nice mixture of comedy levels here, and the result is easy enough to watch even if it’s seldom as clever at it could have been (or as the first “Frankenstein” film). The character of the Mummy is comically altered, but still recognizable from its classic roots. If you like Abbott and Costello, if you’ve seen the two other films in this sub-trilogy, if you’re looking for the authorized comic takes on the Universal classic monsters, then Abbott and Costello Meet the Mummy will fit the bill. It may even be a good pick for Halloween night viewing with the kids.