Hearts Are Thumps: Why we never learn

Is it worth your time?

If you have any nostalgia for the Our Gang shorts, Hearts Are Thumps is a quintessential watch. It captures that specific brand of pre-teen drama that feels both hilariously petty and weirdly high-stakes. If you hate kid actors or loathe the idea of sentimental 1930s comedy, you should probably skip this one entirely.

The whole premise of a 'He-Man Woman Haters Club' is such a relic, isn't it? It’s charming in a way that feels almost alien now. The boys sitting around looking all serious about not talking to girls is classic stuff, but we all know Alfalfa isn't going to last ten minutes.

That scene where he tries to write the poem for Darla? It’s pure cringe in the best way possible. Watching him agonize over a piece of paper while his friends are basically waiting for him to trip up is just perfect. You can see the gears turning in his head, and you already know it’s going to end badly.

It reminds me a bit of the frantic energy in Mike Fright. There is this same feeling of impending doom that the kids are totally oblivious to. The way Alfalfa just leans into the heartbreak is honestly kind of impressive for a kid.

Some random notes:

• The classroom setting always feels so cramped.
• Buckwheat’s reactions are consistently the highlight of every frame he’s in.
• The teacher, Miss Lawrence, plays the 'patient adult' role so well it’s almost scary.
• The whole 'Valentine's Day' setup is just a convenient excuse for the writers to let the chaos unfold.

Honestly, the pacing here is a bit all over the place. It jumps from the club meeting to the classroom pretty abruptly. But does it matter? Not really. You’re watching it for the expressions and the tiny arguments that escalate way too fast.

There's this one moment where Alfalfa is just staring at Darla, and the camera lingers for maybe three seconds too long. It turns into this weirdly intense silence that makes you giggle. It’s not 'great' filmmaking, but it feels human. It feels like they just let the cameras roll and let the kids be kids.

It’s not a masterpiece, and it doesn't try to be. It’s just a snapshot of a time when the biggest problem in the world was whether or not a girl would accept your Valentine’s card. I find that weirdly comforting in a world that’s way more complicated now. Go watch it if you want something simple and slightly messy. 🍫