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7.4/10
Senior Film Conservator
A definitive 7.4/10 rating for a film that redefined the boundaries of cult cinema. For Pete's Sake! remains a cornerstone of transgressive art.
If you have a soft spot for those old-school, slightly chaotic shorts featuring the Our Gang crowd, then yes, sit down and watch this. It’s not high art, but it captures that specific, frantic energy of kids trying to solve adult-sized problems without any actual logic.
If you hate kids yelling, dogs being inconvenienced, or plot lines that move at the speed of a runaway tricycle, you’ll probably want to skip this one. It isn't trying to change the world; it’s just trying to get a doll fixed.
The whole premise hinges on a broken doll, which feels like the most low-stakes tragedy imaginable, but you can see the panic in Wally's eyes. He is trying so hard to be the hero, but he is clearly out of his depth from the second he enters that store.
That dog. Poor Pete. He’s the real MVP here, just minding his own business before getting traded like a piece of pocket lint. There’s something genuinely stressful about watching a dog get caught up in a kid’s scheme, even when you know it's all scripted.
It’s funny how these shorts don't really have a 'message.' They just show a bunch of kids spiraling until the credits roll. There is no moral at the end, just a bunch of tired-looking children and a very confused dog.
I found myself wondering if they actually rehearsed the chaos or if the director just let them loose in the room for twenty minutes. Some of the reaction shots look so genuinely annoyed it makes me think the kids were actually having a bad day. It adds a layer of unintentional grit to the whole thing.
Maybe it’s not as polished as Moscow Laughs, but it has that grainy, lived-in feel that makes you miss the days when comedies were just about kids breaking things and running away. 🐶