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Cult Review
Senior Film Conservator
If you have a soft spot for 1930s slapstick and British music hall performers who refuse to stop talking, you’ll probably find something to grin at here. If you’re looking for a tight script or something that actually makes sense? Yeah, you’re going to hate this. It’s a very specific kind of loud that doesn’t translate perfectly to 2024.
Ernie Lotinga is the whole show. He’s frantic, he’s sweaty, and he’s clearly doing a stage act that someone decided to shove in front of a camera. It feels like watching a play through a keyhole.
The farm setting is basically just a backdrop for people to run into each other and fall over. There’s a scene where the livestock seems more confused than the actors. I spent a solid five minutes wondering why the cows were so quiet during the big shouting match in the barn. 🐄
It lacks the visual invention of something like Mickey's Nightmare, but that’s not really the point, is it? It’s all about the banter. Even when the banter goes absolutely nowhere.
The movie really drags in the middle. There’s this sequence involving a tractor or some machinery that goes on for way too long. The silence between the jokes starts to feel heavy. You can almost feel the director hoping the audience laughs just to break the tension.
It’s not as polished as The Aviator, but it has a messy energy that I kind of respect. It’s not trying to change cinema. It’s just trying to get a few laughs from the front row.
Watching this made me think about how weird it is that we record these things. It’s a performance trapped in amber. Occasionally, someone will look directly into the lens for a split second, and it’s the most honest part of the whole film. 🎥
If you enjoy films that feel like a dusty attic, give it a go. Just don't expect a masterpiece.