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7.5/10
Senior Film Conservator
A definitive 7.5/10 rating for a film that redefined the boundaries of cult cinema. Choo-Choo! remains a cornerstone of transgressive art.
If you have any soft spot for the Our Gang shorts, you will probably find this charming. It’s light, it’s noisy, and it doesn’t ask you to think too hard. If you prefer your comedy with a bit more structure or find kids screaming in high-pitched voices to be a sensory nightmare, skip it.
There is a specific kind of energy in Choo-Choo! that feels like a sugar rush hitting a brick wall. It starts with the switch-up—the orphans are supposed to be the ones on the train, but of course, the gang takes over. It’s pure 1930s chaos.
I found myself watching Pete the Dog more than the actual actors for half the movie. He has this look on his face, especially during the train scenes, like he’s the only one who knows the script is barely holding together. That dog was a genius.
There’s a moment where they’re all piling into the train car, and it’s just pure pandemonium. It reminded me a bit of the frantic pacing in Duck Soup, though obviously on a much smaller scale and with way more soot. You can tell they were just letting the cameras roll while the kids did their thing.
The train itself looks like it’s about to fall apart. It’s barely a prop, really. But there is something strangely grounding about those practical sets. You don't get that feeling of 'fake' green screen nonsense. It’s all wood and steam and actual, physical movement.
It’s not a masterpiece, but it doesn't need to be. It’s a 20-minute time machine. Sometimes it feels like they didn't even have an ending planned, they just sort of stopped filming once everyone got tired. Honestly? That’s the best way to end a movie like this. No big speech. Just kids being kids and a train chugging along into the distance. 🚂
If you want to see a bit more of the era, you could probably pair this with something like The Twinkler, but maybe just stick to one short at a time. It’s enough to make your ears ring if you watch too much of this stuff in one sitting.
