Review of Brats (1930) by Mike M — 15 Mar 2011
Early on, you realise that pitting Laurel and Hardy against themselves (even tinier versions of themselves) rather limits the mayhem; they were, at this stage, working literally within themselves, and the shorts hadn't as yet discovered the infinite possibilities for chaos the wider world would provide them with.
Yet even this approach provides moments to savour: Stan's observation on leading a horse to water, a line of thought later taken up by Half Man Half Biscuit; Ollie's belated swallow upon discovering he's muddled up his marshmallow with the poolroom chalk, a subtle pay-off to a simple joke of a kind nobody involved with subsequent "Norbit"/"Big Momma"-style comedies appears capable of thinking up; and a gag with a sock caught under a stool which cordially invites you to see the punchline coming from some distance.
Otherwise, with its doubling and trick photography, a useful warm-up for the later "Our Relations", one of the stars' cleverest features.
This review of Brats (1930) was written by Mike M on 15 Mar 2011.
Brats has generally received positive reviews.
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