Review of Sherlock Jr. (1924) by Sam F — 07 Feb 2007

Keaton is brilliant in his satire of Sherlock Holmes and detectives in general. Sherlock Jr. is a play in a play in play. Buster is up to his usual tricks and gags, highlights include the motorcycle ride, the floating car, the leap through the window to change into the costume of the old lady. He pits himself against villains so nasty and unchivalrous that he becomes the hero even without really trying. His use of backwards logic to poke fun at Holmes and his parlor tricks all show that Keaton was a master at the art or comedy. This film was originally going to be much longer but Keaton decided it would fare better as a shorter piece.

The whole sequence of the dinner party is simply amazing. His revealance of the criminal is hilarious and at the exact same moment brilliant. The playing with film effects is his personal jab at the capacities and limitations of film.