Rating summary
| Movie |  | 3.5 |
| Video | | 3.5 |
| Audio |  | 4.0 |
| Extras |  | 2.5 |
| Overall |  | 3.0 |
Buck Privates Come Home Blu-ray Movie Review
Reviewed by Brian Orndorf December 1, 2019
Fresh from World War II service, Herbie (Lou Costello) and Slicker (Bud Abbott) are ready to return to America, but they don’t have a plan for the
future. Herbie complicates the arrival by taking French orphan Evey (Beverly Simmons) with him, but his superiors demand she be turned over to
immigration, separating her from these unlikely guardians. Fighting to adopt her, Herbie tries to encourage marriage between Lt. Sylvia (Joan Fulton)
and her boyfriend, Bill (Tom Brown), hoping they’ll take Evey in, but trouble arrives with Sgt. Collins (Nat Pendleton), who’s trying to keep the child
away from Herbie and Slicker, seeking revenge on the troublemakers.
A sequel to 1941’s “Buck Privates,” “Buck Privates Come Home” picks up the story post-war, with Slicker and Herbie considering their future after
service. However, Abbott and Costello aren’t through with military antics, as the opening of the follow-up focuses on ship-based wackiness, including
the “sawhorse” routine, which finds the men trying to balance dinner on a moving table propped up by a single support beam. “Buck Privates Come
Home” has the plot with Evey and adoption blues, but most of the feature is handed over to slapstick set pieces, permitting Abbott and Costello to
reclaim partnership momentum lost to efforts such as “Little Giant” and “The Time of Their Lives.”
Buck Privates Come Home Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality
Matters have improved a bit for the Buck Privates, with the AVC encoded image (1.35:1 aspect ratio) presentation for "Buck Privates Come Home"
offering a slightly stronger sense of cinematic life than its predecessor. While the picture is loaded with editorial transitions, diminishing resolution,
softer detail comes through when allowed to, securing facial features and textured costuming. Sets are open for study as well, along with slapstick
particulars, including food items from the "sawhorse" routine. Delineation is comfortable. Source is in decent shape, with mild scratches and speckling.
Buck Privates Come Home Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality
The 2.0 DTS-HD MA sound mix handles well during the broader antics of "Buck Privates Come Home," finding reaction extremes comfortable, never
blowing out highs. Dialogue exchanges are appreciable, with varied performance coming through sharply. Scoring is also defined, supplying bouncier
instrumentation to aid the comedic mood of the effort. Mild hiss is detected.
Buck Privates Come Home Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras
- Image Gallery (4:07) collects film stills, publicity shots, poster art, and lobby cards.
- Production Notes (1:27) offer information on the making of "Buck Privates Come Home."
- And a Theatrical Trailer (2:14, SD) is included.
Buck Privates Come Home Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation
"Buck Privates Come Home" restores prime Abbott and Costello energy, even making a direct reference to Bugs Bunny and his Looney Tunes influence
as the picture gets sillier. There's a midget car race conclusion to introduce speed to the endeavor, filling in the last to-do box for an Abbott and
Costello production. It's all a little too routine, but that appears to be the point, with the production making a direct effort to return the stars to their
madcap glory.
