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6.7/10
Senior Film Conservator
A definitive 6.7/10 rating for a film that redefined the boundaries of cult cinema. Early to Bed remains a cornerstone of transgressive art.
If you like those frantic 1930s comedies where everyone is yelling and people are constantly misunderstanding each other, you’ll probably have a decent time. If you get annoyed by characters who simply refuse to talk to each other to solve their problems, skip it.
It’s not quite as sharp as something like Dangerous Nan McGrew, but it’s got its moments.
So, poor Chester has been engaged for five years and dating for fifteen. That’s twenty years of waiting! It’s exhausting just thinking about it. The movie really leans into the idea that his sleepwalking is this big, dark secret. It’s played for laughs, but man, imagine the laundry bills.
The whole bit with the glass eyes is just bizarre. Who writes these things? It feels like the writers just threw random objects into a hat and picked one.
Once they get to the lake, the movie shifts gears into standard farce. It’s all very stage-bound and tidy. People are constantly walking into the wrong rooms. It’s almost impressive how nobody ever just asks, "Hey, why are you holding that glass eye?"
The pacing is a bit like a bicycle with a flat tire. It moves, but it’s bumpy. There’s a scene near the middle that just drags on, and I found myself looking at my phone for a second before remembering I’m supposed to be watching this.
It’s not a masterpiece, but it’s fine. It’s the kind of movie you put on while you’re folding laundry. If you miss a few minutes, you really haven’t missed anything at all. Sometimes, that’s exactly what you need.