Luncheon at Twelve is a weirdly frantic mess

Wait, what was he doing again?

Honestly, Luncheon at Twelve is the kind of thing you watch when you just need to turn your brain off. If you’re looking for a deep story, keep walking. But if you want to watch Charley Chase bumble his way into a house painting gig and ruin everything in sight? You’re in the right place. 🎨

It’s not exactly high cinema, but it moves fast. It’s perfect for people who like that old-school, slightly mean-spirited slapstick where the hero just can’t catch a break. If you hate watching people make bad decisions for twenty minutes straight, you’ll probably want to skip this one.

The paint situation

There’s a specific bit where the paint situation gets out of hand, and I’m pretty sure the actors were actually miserable. You can see it in their eyes. It’s not acting; they are covered in the stuff. 🤡

It reminds me a bit of the frantic energy in Wife Savers, where everything is just a little too loud and a little too fast. The pacing is weirdly uneven, like someone cut the film with a pair of rusty scissors. I kind of loved that part of it.

• That one background extra who clearly forgot his lines.
• The sound design that just gives up halfway through.
• Charley’s hat. I don't know why, but it really bothers me.

Does it hold up?

Maybe? Not really. But it’s got a weird charm to it that keeps you watching. It’s got none of the polish of Playboy of Paris, but it feels more honest because of it. It’s just a guy, some paint, and a whole lot of bad luck.

Sometimes the camera just stays on a door for five seconds too long. It’s awkward. It’s funny. I don't think it was intentional, but it’s there anyway. 🤷‍♂️