Ex-Sweeties: A messy party you probably shouldn't attend

Is it worth your time?

Honestly, you’re only watching Ex-Sweeties if you’re deep into that specific hole of 1930s comedy shorts where the plot is thinner than a piece of deli ham. It’s perfect for people who like their cinema chaotic and low-stakes. If you need a movie to make sense or possess a coherent moral compass, stay far away.

The whole thing kicks off at a birthday party. Two guys decide, right there over the cake, that they need to propose to Agnes. Instead of, you know, being normal, they just start swinging at each other. It’s that old-school slapstick energy where everyone is shouting but nobody is actually saying anything interesting.

The pacing is erratic, to say the least. One minute they’re fighting, the next a new woman shows up and suddenly the original suitors have forgotten Agnes even exists. It’s like watching a group of toddlers get distracted by a shiny object, but with more suits and hats.

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

Wait, was that her?

Keep your eyes peeled for Betty Grable. It’s a super early, uncredited bit. She pops in and out so fast it’s almost like she was just passing through the studio lot to grab a coffee and the director shouted 'action!' while she was walking by. It’s not a performance that’ll change your life, but it’s a fun little 'I found it' moment for the nerds like me.

I couldn't help but compare the frantic, aimless energy here to something like Three Hollywood Girls. Both films feel like they’re being held together by duct tape and sheer willpower. There’s a specific kind of awkwardness in these old shorts that you don't really get anymore. The actors look like they’re waiting for a cue that never actually came.

• The fight choreography is essentially just guys waving their arms near each other's faces.
• The birthday cake is suspiciously untouched for the entire duration of the party.
• The dialogue is mostly just people repeating the last thing someone else said, but louder.

It’s not a masterpiece. It’s barely a meal. But there’s something weirdly comforting about how little this movie cares about being 'good' in the traditional sense. It’s just a series of events happening to people who seem mildly annoyed by the script. Definitely a strange little artifact. 🎞️