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5.8/10
Senior Film Conservator
A definitive 5.8/10 rating for a film that redefined the boundaries of cult cinema. Beer and Pretzels remains a cornerstone of transgressive art.
If you're looking for a tight script or anything resembling a coherent plot, look elsewhere. Beer and Pretzels is essentially a collection of aggressive pranks masquerading as a movie. If you love the Stooges, you’ll find the foundation here, but if you value your sanity, you might find the relentless shouting a bit much. 🍺
Ted Healy is the real anchor here, though "anchor" might be the wrong word—he's more like the guy constantly lighting fires for the Stooges to put out. The way he gets them fired in the first five minutes feels less like a narrative setup and more like a desperate need to clear the stage for the nightclub bit.
The pacing is, well, non-existent. It jumps from one loud room to another, and the destruction of the nightclub feels like it happens in real-time, mostly because it looks like they really did break the furniture. You can almost see the cameraman trying to dodge a flying tray.
There's a weird, frantic energy to the whole thing that reminds me a bit of the chaotic vibe in A Night Out, though with significantly more hitting. It doesn't have the polish of their later shorts, and honestly, that's kind of the charm. It’s raw, loud, and frankly, a little exhausting to watch for longer than ten minutes.
It’s not art. It’s barely a movie. But there’s something fascinating about watching the prototype for a comedy legend just exist in this messy environment. It’s the cinematic equivalent of a bar fight you watch from a safe distance. Don't expect to remember much after the credits roll, but you'll probably laugh at the pure stupidity of it at least once. 🥨
