Rating summary

Movie		4.0
Video		3.0
Audio		3.0
Extras		2.5
Overall		3.0

Here Come the Co-eds Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Brian Orndorf December 1, 2019

Concerned about his sister’s education, Slats (Bud Abbott) manages to secure a scholarship to Bixby College for Molly (Martha O’Driscoll). Offered jobs as caretakers by the dean (Donald Cook), Slats and pal Oliver (Lou Costello) join Molly on campus, only to find her legitimacy challenged by Chairman Kirkland (Charles Dingle), who wants the young student kicked out. While Molly figures out what to do, Oliver enjoys his time at Bixby, cozying up to Patty (Patty Ryan), a student who’s delighted by the manic man.

While 1945’s “Here Come the Co-eds” doesn’t stray far from Abbott and Costello formula, it does offers the stars an unusual location to smash up with their comedic fury. The picture is set at an all-female college, which inspires a bit more randy behavior from the boys, as Costello is handed a romantic partner in Patty, with the pair delivering a charming duet in “Let’s Play House,” allowing the “chubby” comedian an opportunity to take a breather from straight slapstick sequences. “Here Come the Co-eds” also has the benefit of a decent plot, as Molly’s fight to remain at Bixby conjures some interesting conflicts between powerful college leaders, and the movie is quite active, following the duo into the sports realm with a climatic basketball game sweetened a bit by Oliver as his encounters with gender-swapping brain trauma.

Here Come the Co-eds Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

The AVC encoded image (1.35:1 aspect ratio) presentation secures a passable look at frame particulars in "Here Come the Co-eds," which is often filled with background action featuring the students, along with orchestra members. Detail battles an aged master, struggling with fibrous costuming and college tours, occasionally securing a feel for decoration and depth of sets. Some facial surfaces survive, getting a sense of age and, in the case of Costello, sweaty panic.

Here Come the Co-eds Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The 2.0 DTS-HD MA track starts off in good condition, providing clear dialogue exchanges with only mild hiss. Scoring efforts and musical numbers remain enjoyable as well, handling with comfortable instrumentation, and vocals are supported. Around the 27:00 mark, overall clarity diminishes with the aged source, losing definition. It's not a drastic decline, but noticeable.

Here Come the Co-eds Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Image Gallery (3:54) collects film stills, publicity shots, poster art, lobby cards, and sheet music covers.

• Production Notes (1:33) offer information on the making of "Here Come the Co-eds."

• And a Theatrical Trailer (1:48, SD) is included.

Here Come the Co-eds Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

"Here Come the Co-eds" does recycle a few Abbott and Costello routines, but there's renewed energy to enjoy, watching the comedy duo work extra hard to sell sight gags, and Ryan is a complete charmer in a supporting role. And supplying a dash of oddity, Phil Spitalny and his All-Girl Orchestra pop up throughout the feature, adding smooth sounds to the endeavor, transcending their gimmick, increasing the entertainment value of the picture.