Ex-Plumber: A vintage headache or a charming relic?

Is it worth your time?

Honestly, only if you’re a complete sucker for dusty, slapstick-heavy shorts from the early days of cinema. If you need a coherent plot or, you know, actual stakes, you’re probably going to hate it. It’s the kind of movie that assumes any amount of running around with a wrench constitutes a punchline.

The whole setup is just ridiculous. A Russian Grand Duke? Really? You can almost see the gears grinding in the writers' heads trying to make this premise stick. It feels like they had a plumber, a dress, and a room, and just started throwing things at the wall to see what hit.

There’s this one scene where the plumber tries to act like a husband, and he looks so uncomfortable, like he’s wearing a suit that’s two sizes too small. He’s just standing there, shifting his weight, and you can tell he’d rather be fixing a leaky pipe than dealing with these people. It’s actually the most relatable part of the whole film.

Cinematic perspective: Exploring the visual vocabulary of Ex-Plumber (1931) through its definitive frames.

I couldn't help but think about how much more fun this might have been if they had just leaned into the messiness. It reminds me a bit of the chaotic energy in Radio Riot, though maybe with a lot less charm. At least in that one, things felt like they were moving with purpose.

The pacing is just... weird. It jumps from one misunderstanding to the next without giving you a second to breathe. I think I counted three times where the husband almost walks in, and it’s meant to be tense, but it just feels like the characters are just waiting on their cues. It’s not quite on the level of The Whole Truth, but it’s got that same frantic, slightly desperate energy.

• The plumber’s outfit is a masterclass in unintentional comedy.
• The Duke’s accent is basically just shouting with a vague European vibe.
• There’s a door that gets slammed so many times I thought it might actually break.

Ultimately, it’s just a silly little thing. Not something you’ll be talking about tomorrow, or even in ten minutes. It’s just there. Watching it, I kept thinking about how much more I enjoyed Millie, even if they aren't really in the same genre. 🤷‍♂️

It’s fine if you like your humor loud and your logic absent. But if you’re looking for something that actually sticks to your ribs, look elsewhere. 🎥