Caught Plastered Review: Wheeler and Woolsey at Their Most Chaotic

Is it worth your time?

If you have a soft spot for 1930s comedies where everyone talks like they just drank five espressos, then yes. You’ll probably have a good time.

But if you can’t stand thin plots or people breaking into song for no reason, stay far away from this one. It’s a specific kind of acquired taste. 🥤

I watched this on a Tuesday night when I didn't want to think too hard. It worked perfectly for that.

Bert Wheeler and Robert Woolsey are the stars here. They were basically the big deal before Abbott and Costello showed up on the scene.

In this one, they play vaudeville actors who are totally flat broke. They end up in a tiny town and meet Mother Talbot.

She’s this sweet old lady running a drug store that is basically falling apart. She's about to lose everything because of a mean old man named Egbert Floud.

Charles Middleton plays the villain. He has one of those faces that just looks like he wants to cancel Christmas. 😠

The guys decide to help her out. Their plan is mostly just chaotic energy and fast talking.

The Soda Fountain Chaos

The best part of the movie is definitely the drug store itself. It has that very specific 1931 look where everything is made of heavy wood and glass jars.

There is a scene where they are trying to mix drinks at the fountain. It feels like they are just making it up as they go.

The movie really gets going when the villain spikes their new 'lemon soda' with a bunch of alcohol. Remember, this was made during Prohibition.

So, the idea of a whole town getting accidentally wasted on soda was probably hilarious back then. It’s still pretty funny now, honestly.

People start acting completely wild. Even the stuffy old ladies in the town start cutting loose.

It reminds me a little bit of the energy in Pack Up Your Troubles, but maybe a bit more frantic.

The Pacing is a Bit Weird

I’ll be honest, the middle of the movie drags a little. There is a lot of standing around and talking in that static, early-sound-movie way.

The camera doesn't move much. It feels like you are watching a stage play from the front row.

Sometimes the jokes land, and sometimes they just thud on the floor. Woolsey’s puns are terrible, but he says them with such confidence you almost have to laugh.

He’s always got that cigar in his mouth. I kept wondering if he ever actually smoked it or if it was just a prop he slept with.

Bert Wheeler does this thing where he starts crying to get what he wants. It’s his 'bit.' It goes on a few seconds too long in the scene with the cop.

Specific Things I Noticed

• The way Dorothy Lee looks at Bert is actually kind of sweet. She was in a ton of their movies.
• There is a dog in one scene that looks like it really wants to be literally anywhere else. 🐕
• The sound quality is a bit fuzzy. You might have to turn the volume up to catch the fast wordplay.
• The costumes are great. Woolsey’s suit is so loud you can almost hear it through the screen.

I noticed that the editing is a bit jumpy. Like, one second they are in the store, and the next they are suddenly somewhere else with no transition.

It’s not a masterpiece of filmmaking. It’s more like a filmed version of a comedy sketch that got stretched out to an hour.

I think the movie is actually better than High Speed from a few years earlier, just because the duo has such good chemistry.

They finish each other's sentences. You can tell they’ve done these routines a thousand times on stage.

"We aren't looking for work, we're looking for a drug store!"

That line is basically their whole philosophy. They just want to cause a bit of trouble and maybe help a nice lady along the way.

The Musical Numbers

Oh yeah, there are songs. I almost forgot. They aren't very memorable, to be honest.

They kind of just stop the plot cold. One minute they are selling medicine, the next they are singing about love.

It’s very typical for 1931. Audiences back then expected a bit of everything in their comedies.

If you’ve seen If I Were King, you know how these old movies love to mix genres.

But here, the music feels like a distraction. I just wanted to get back to the lemon soda plot.

The ending is pretty predictable. Everything works out, the bad guy gets his, and the store is saved.

It’s a 'feel good' movie before that was even a marketing term. It doesn't have a mean bone in its body.

Final Thoughts on the Vibe

The movie feels very 'small town.' Everyone knows everyone. It’s a nice escape from the modern world.

It’s definitely not as polished as something like Thunderbolt, but it’s not trying to be.

It just wants to make you grin. And maybe make you crave a fizzy drink.

I wouldn't say this is the best Wheeler and Woolsey movie, but it’s a solid entry point if you’re curious about them.

The 'plastered' stuff is handled with a light touch. It never gets too dark or messy.

It’s just a bunch of people in 1931 acting like goofs. And sometimes, that’s exactly what you need to see.

The whole thing is less than 70 minutes long. You can watch it, have a laugh, and still have time to do your laundry.

I’d give it a watch if you find it streaming somewhere for free. Don't go paying big bucks for a fancy Blu-ray unless you’re a completionist.

It's just a fun little relic of a time when comedy was simpler and cigars were mandatory for leading men. 🎩