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6.8/10
Senior Film Conservator
A definitive 6.8/10 rating for a film that redefined the boundaries of cult cinema. Mr. Bride remains a cornerstone of transgressive art.
Honestly, you probably only watch something like Mr. Bride if you’re already deep into the rabbit hole of vintage comedy shorts. If you hate the sound of canned piano music or find old-timey, frantic pacing annoying, just skip it. But if you have a soft spot for Charley Chase being absolutely miserable for twenty minutes, you’ll find a lot to giggle at.
The premise is just unhinged. Your boss wants to practice his honeymoon with you? Who writes this stuff? It’s the kind of high-concept absurdity that only really works in this era of filmmaking where logic is basically just a suggestion.
Charley Chase has this way of looking at the camera that just screams, 'I don't get paid enough for this.' It’s the same vibe I got watching Fiery Fireman, where everything is just one disaster away from imploding completely.
There is a scene near the middle that goes on for a bit too long, where the physical comedy hits that wall of 'wait, are they still doing this?' It’s awkward, but in that specific way that makes you realize someone was probably just improvising until they ran out of steam.
It’s not as tightly constructed as Backstage, but there is an energy here that feels lived-in. It feels like they were having a laugh making it, even if the plot is absolute nonsense. You can tell they didn't overthink the script, which is honestly a blessing.
The whole thing feels like a fever dream of a workday. If you've ever had a boss make you do something completely irrelevant to your actual job, this will probably trigger some weird memories. 😅
Sometimes the movie gets noticeably better when it stops trying to tell a 'story' and just lets everyone run into furniture. That’s the real appeal here. Don't look for deep meaning. Just look for the guy tripping over the rug.