Deux nigauds au collège

Abbott & Costello find themselves working as caretakers in an all-girl college which they help to save from financial ruin. An average mid-career entry from the comedy team panders to Costello's tendency to overplay his hand, but has a few decent laughs.

HERE COME THE CO-EDS (1945) **1/2 Bud Abbott, Lou Costello, Peggy Ryan, Martha O' Driscoll, Lon Chaney, Jr. Funny Abbott & Costello flick with the boys as janitors at a girls' finishing school. Best sequence is Costello in drag at a basketball game. Neat chase at film's end.

Abbott & Costello play two fired dance escorts who end up working as janitors at Bixby College, which is an exclusive girls school. Their supervisor is a mean man(played by Lon Chaney Jr.) that they try to avoid as much as possible. Meanwhile, the school is having financial troubles, and is in danger of closing, so an upcoming basketball game becomes a very big deal, as the future of the college hinges on a victory. Will things work out for our heroes? OK comedy is funny enough to work, though is certainly not among their best. The funniest scenes are when they are trying to clean the kitchen, or trying to make sense of the latest slang and social customs of the girls.

My only problem is where to rank this film with rest of the A & C classics like "Frankenstein" and Hold That Ghost." Certainly, it's in my Top 5, but maybe that's not important--other than the movie being great. Not too many things hindering the movie (obviously) like too many staged singing and dancing numbers--unless the few here had a bevy of college girls doing it, then I'm okay. >:-) Lon Chaney Jr. as a somewhat "ill tempered" janitor is certainly another plus for this one (did you swallow those dice?). And there's the classic wrestling match with Lou, that they recycled for the tv show; if I need to compare, I would say this film beats that one...

With "Here Come The Co-eds," Abbott & Costello have their funniest film since 1942's "Who Done It." The duo seems more energetic in their performance, and the storyline (two ballroom dancers who find themselves as caretakers at an all-girls college) suits them well. The "Jonah" routine shines here, and the comic timing the duo display is exquisite. Costello shows his basketball prowess during the climactic basketball game. Also a plus -- a decent supporting cast featuring Peggy Ryan ("She's cuuuuute!") and Lon Chaney Jr. as the deliciously evil head caretaker. The movie avoids heavy and sluggish moments and is paced well, although one could still due without the music filler. All in all though, a solid effort with solid laughs. 8 out of 10.