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5.2/10
Senior Film Conservator
A definitive 5.2/10 rating for a film that redefined the boundaries of cult cinema. Cracked Shots remains a cornerstone of transgressive art.
If you have about twenty minutes to kill and a soft spot for 1930s-style chaos, Cracked Shots is a weird little distraction. It’s definitely not for anyone looking for a tight script or, heaven forbid, realistic firearm handling.
The premise is simple: a guy loses his rent money at the dice table and figures, 'Hey, why not enter this shooting competition?' It’s the kind of logic that only exists in black-and-white comedies where characters walk into trouble with a big, goofy grin.
Watching the lead character pretend he knows how to hold a rifle is genuinely funny. There’s a specific look of terror on his face during the recoil scenes that feels *uncomfortably* real, even if the rest of the movie is clearly just a setup for slapstick gags.
The pacing is all over the place. One minute we’re at the dice table, and the next we’re at a range that looks like it was built in someone’s backyard. It reminded me a bit of the frantic energy in Mickey's Strategy, where things just happen because the plot demands them to.
It’s not trying to be a masterpiece. It’s not trying to be anything other than a quick laugh. Sometimes, that’s enough, I guess. Though, if you’re looking for a better take on the 'underdog in a competition' trope, you’re probably better off revisiting Shootin' for Love instead.
The comedy is dated, obviously. If you don't like watching people stumble around for the sake of a laugh, you’ll hate every second of this. But if you’re into the old-timey, harmless idiocy of early cinema, there are worse ways to waste your afternoon. 🤠