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5.6/10
Senior Film Conservator
A definitive 5.6/10 rating for a film that redefined the boundaries of cult cinema. Gobs of Fun remains a cornerstone of transgressive art.
Honestly? Only if you are a completionist for this specific era of frantic, low-stakes comedy. If you get annoyed by people yelling over each other for twenty minutes straight, you will probably want to turn this off before the first act even hits its stride.
The whole premise feels like a sketch that got stretched until it snapped. Two sailors, one girl, and a whole lot of running around. That is basically the entire movie. It reminded me a bit of the frantic energy in Thundering Fleas, but with way less charm and way more shouting.
Shemp Howard is in this, which is the only reason I stayed awake. He brings that specific, bug-eyed chaos that he’s famous for, but even he looks a little tired here. There is a scene where he is trying to act suave that just goes on for way too long. It stops being funny and starts being... well, just a bit sad. 😅
The rest of the cast seems to be operating on a different wavelength entirely. Everyone is sprinting from room to room, slamming doors, and doing the whole 'oops, I almost bumped into you' routine. It’s exhausting. It feels like they were trying to capture that classic slapstick magic, but the timing is just slightly off. Like a drummer hitting the snare a millisecond late, every single time.
Lulu is supposed to be this femme fatale who has everyone wrapped around her finger. But the movie doesn't really give her much to do other than look surprised. It’s weird. She’s the center of the universe for these guys, yet she feels like a background prop. The script treats her like a prize in a carnival game rather than an actual person.
I found myself staring at the background extras in one scene. They look like they are waiting for a bus instead of acting in a scene. It’s that kind of movie. You notice the dust on the floor more than the plot twists. Seriously, it’s not exactly high art.
If you have a spare hour and you really, really need something to play in the background while you clean your kitchen, go for it. Otherwise, maybe stick to something with a bit more heart. Like The Money Master or anything that doesn't feel like it was filmed in a frantic, sweaty panic.
IMDb 6.5
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