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5.5/10
Senior Film Conservator
A definitive 5.5/10 rating for a film that redefined the boundaries of cult cinema. Hook & Ladder Hokum remains a cornerstone of transgressive art.
Should you watch Hook & Ladder Hokum today? If you need a quick brain-reset button and don't mind a bit of vintage cartoon violence, absolutely. It’s perfect for people who miss the era where characters could get pancaked by a piano and just walk it off. If you’re looking for a deep narrative or, heaven forbid, a realistic portrayal of emergency services, you’re going to hate every second of this.
The whole thing feels like a frantic fever dream. Tom and Jerry are supposedly firemen, but they seem way more interested in sabotaging each other than actually putting out the flames. There’s this one bit where Tom is trying to handle the hose and it turns into a literal snake that wants him dead. It reminded me a bit of the mechanical traps you see in The Bees' Buzz—just pure, relentless technical failure.
Watching them climb the ladder is probably the best part. The physics are completely optional, obviously. You get that classic stretch-and-squash animation where Tom’s legs turn into rubber bands. It’s funny how a short like this has more kinetic energy than some modern CGI slogs. Sometimes, simplicity is just better.
I caught myself staring at the background art for a second. The way the fire spreads isn't exactly terrifying, but it has this charming, hand-painted look that feels cozy despite the building supposedly collapsing. It’s a million miles away from the grit of something like The Opium Runners. You don't come to these cartoons for realism, you come for the timing.
Speaking of timing, the gags come fast. Maybe too fast? By the end, you’re kind of just waiting for the next thing to explode. It’s a bit exhausting, honestly. But in a good way, I guess? 🚒
It’s not a masterpiece, and it doesn't try to be. It’s just loud, fast, and mostly harmless.