Life Hesitates at 40: A strange little trip

Is it worth the watch?

Honestly, you either want this or you don't. If you have a soft spot for 1930s short comedies that don't know what they want to be, you’ll dig it. If you’re looking for a tight, logical narrative, stay away. It’s a weird, lopsided little thing.

Charley Chase always has this look on his face like he’s trying to solve a math problem while someone is throwing pies at him. Watching him deal with these 'spells' where everything freezes is... well, it’s mostly just an excuse for some odd physical comedy.

The pacing is a total mess. One minute he’s stressed about his life, the next everything stops, and you’re just waiting for the movie to remember what the plot was. It’s like watching a friend tell a story they forgot the middle of.

I couldn't help but think of the chaotic energy in Ha! Ha! Ha! while watching this. It has that same 'let's see what sticks' vibe.

Some notes from the couch:

• The frozen extras are really trying their best to look like statues. It's funny because they clearly aren't holding their breath well.
• James Finlayson shows up, and as usual, he’s the only one who seems to know exactly what the tone should be.
• There is a moment near the middle where Charley just stares at a door for way too long. I actually checked to see if my connection dropped.
• It’s not as sharp as some of the other stuff from that era, like The Skeleton Dance, but it has heart.

There's no grand message here. It’s not trying to fix the world. It’s just Charley being Charley, and sometimes that's enough. Maybe.

I’m still not sure if the 'spells' are meant to be a metaphor for aging or just a cheap gag they found in a studio prop closet. It doesn't really matter, though. It’s charming in a dusty, forgotten sort of way. 🎞️