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7.2/10
Senior Film Conservator
A definitive 7.2/10 rating for a film that redefined the boundaries of cult cinema. Me and My Pal remains a cornerstone of transgressive art.
If you like physical comedy that makes you want to pull your hair out, absolutely watch it. It is perfect for anyone who enjoys old-school slapstick, but if you have zero patience for people making the same mistake five times in a row, you will probably hate every second of it.
There is something genuinely stressful about watching a jigsaw puzzle derail a wedding. It starts so small. Just two guys sitting on the floor, totally oblivious to the fact that there is a bride waiting and a taxi driver getting increasingly annoyed outside.
The way Stan and Ollie get sucked into the cardboard pieces is almost impressive. It is not even a complex puzzle. They just can't stop looking at it. It’s maddening.
The taxi driver's face when he realizes he is not going to get paid for waiting is priceless. He keeps coming back inside, and every time, he ends up just as confused and stuck as they are. You can tell the actor is having a blast playing the guy who keeps losing his mind.
There is a moment where the policeman walks in, and instead of enforcing the law, he gets roped into finding a corner piece. It is so stupid. I love it.
The pacing is honestly a bit weird, but that is kind of the point. The movie lingers on the mess they make until the living room looks like a hurricane hit it. It feels like watching a real-life argument where nobody is actually listening to anyone else.
It reminded me a bit of the frantic energy in Hard Luck, where everything that can go wrong absolutely does. Maybe not as wild, but the vibe is there.
Watching this made me think about how some movies just don't need a deep plot. They just need a good gag and two people who are really, really bad at being adults. It works.
The whole thing feels like a fever dream of cardboard. I found myself shouting at the screen, “Just leave the puzzle!” But they never do. They never do. 🧩