DbcultAccessing Vault...
6.7/10
Senior Film Conservator
A definitive 6.7/10 rating for a film that redefined the boundaries of cult cinema. Be Big! remains a cornerstone of transgressive art.
So, is Be Big! worth your time today? If you're already a fan of Laurel and Hardy, absolutely. It's a quick, silly romp that delivers exactly what you expect from them. If you’re not familiar, this might be a decent, short introduction, but it’s definitely for folks who appreciate classic physical comedy. Anyone looking for deep narratives or modern pacing? You'll probably find it a bit dated.
The whole setup is just classic Stan and Ollie trying to pull a fast one. They want to hit up a stag party, see, but their wives have other plans for an Atlantic City trip. So, Oliver, he cooks up this *brilliant* idea: a fake migraine. 🤦♂️
Oliver's performance of his headache is a real highlight. He clutches his head, groans, just really sells it. You can almost feel the movie trying to convince you this moment matters, mostly because Oliver is just so committed to his misery. Stan, naturally, is trying to help, mostly by making things worse, as always.
The wives, played by Anita Garvin and Isabelle Keith, they seem to buy it, but you get the feeling they're a bit too trusting. Or maybe just fed up. They head off to the train, leaving the boys to "recover."
Of course, the plan immediately goes sideways. The boys need to get to the party, which means getting into their Sons of the Desert lodge uniforms. This is where the real fun starts. The uniforms are a mess. Oliver's trying to put his on, and Stan, bless his heart, is struggling just to get his arm in a sleeve. It’s a whole production.
There's this great bit where they're trying to sneak out, but they keep running into their wives. The whole thing hinges on these near-misses. Like, they get to the train station, and who do they see? The wives, waiting for *their* train. Oh boy.
The disguises are hilariously bad. They try to wear these oversized military-style coats and hats. Stan's hat, in particular, looks about three sizes too big, practically swallowing his head. It’s a good visual gag, really.
One scene has them trying to hide behind a newspaper, but it's not quite big enough. You can see their feet sticking out. It's not a complicated joke, but it lands because they commit so hard to the *idea* of being hidden. The crowd scenes have this oddly empty feeling sometimes, like half the extras wandered off, but it actually adds to the slightly surreal, chaotic vibe.
The pacing is pretty brisk for a short film from that era. It keeps moving from one mishap to the next. You don't really get a moment to breathe before another problem pops up for them. Which is good, because you want to see what ridiculous situation they'll get into next.
There's a moment when Oliver is trying to be all stern, giving Stan instructions, and Stan just nods blankly, then does the exact opposite. Classic Laurel and Hardy dynamic. It’s not just the pratfalls; it’s that specific, exasperated glance Oliver gives Stan. That’s gold.
The ending is a bit rushed, as these shorts often are. It wraps up the immediate chaos but doesn't really offer a neat conclusion. But who watches Laurel and Hardy for neat conclusions, anyway? It’s all about the journey, the escalating absurdity.
If you like old-school slapstick and don't mind a story that's mostly an excuse for gags, give Be Big! a watch. It’s a small, funny piece of cinema history that still gets a chuckle. Not a grand masterpiece, but a solid little entry in their filmography. 👍
IMDb —
1919
Community
Log in to comment.
