Hoi Polloi: Three Garbagemen in Tuxedos, What Could Go Wrong?

Is this actually worth the watch?

If you’ve got twenty minutes and a low tolerance for stuffy, serious cinema, then absolutely. You’re going to love this if you grew up watching the Stooges and just want to see people trip over their own feet. If you’re looking for a grounded, realistic look at social mobility, you’re in the wrong place. Go watch The Lost Battalion instead and leave the slapstick to the professionals.

The whole premise is just a classic setup: a bet between academics. Professor Richmond thinks he can take three guys who spend their days tossing trash into a truck and turn them into refined dinner party guests. It’s basically Pygmalion, but with more head-bonking.

Moe, Larry, and Curly are in rare form here. There’s a bit where they’re trying to learn how to dance, and it’s just pure, unadulterated physical comedy. The way Curly’s feet move when he tries to be graceful is genuinely impressive in a 'how did he not break his ankle' kind of way.

There's a specific moment during the dinner party scene that I couldn't stop laughing at. One of them—I think it was Larry—tries to be sophisticated with a piece of silverware and ends up just making a total disaster of the table setting. It’s not high art, but it’s honest comedy.

The pacing is fast. Like, really fast. The movie doesn't waste time with boring exposition or setting the stage. You’re dropped right into the garbage truck, and before you can even get settled, they’re being dragged into the professor’s house.

Odd little observations:

• The tuxedos they wear look like they were rented from a place that only stocks costumes for circus clowns.
• The professor is so incredibly patient, which is the funniest part. He’s clearly losing his mind, but he keeps smiling.
• The sound effects when they hit each other are so sharp you can almost feel them in your own teeth.

It’s funny how a movie like this feels more human than the polished stuff coming out these days. It’s sloppy in parts, and the edits are a bit jagged, but it’s got heart. Or at least a lot of enthusiasm for hitting people with objects.

Sometimes you just need to see three guys in fancy suits ruin a perfectly good party. It’s not changing the world, but it made my Tuesday feel a lot less heavy. If you’ve seen Tire Trouble, you’ll recognize the same brand of chaotic energy here. Just don't overthink it.