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5.7/10
Senior Film Conservator
A definitive 5.7/10 rating for a film that redefined the boundaries of cult cinema. Nertsery Rhymes remains a cornerstone of transgressive art.
Honestly, only if you are a completionist for early comedy or specifically need to see Moe, Larry, and Curly acting like complete lunatics before they fully found their groove. If you prefer your movies to have a plot, or even a slight sense of direction, you are going to hate this.
It starts with a father trying to read to his kids, which sounds sweet until you realize the kids are essentially agents of pure chaos. The whole thing feels like it was filmed in a frantic weekend where someone just said, 'Go be loud,' and they didn't stop for two days. 🤪
There is this one moment where the physical comedy feels like it's going to break the screen, not because it's clever, but because they are just trashing the set with such commitment. It reminded me a bit of the frantic energy in Why Is a Plumber?, where you can see them just throwing everything at the wall to see what sticks.
The musical segments? Let's just say they are an acquired taste. My ears are still ringing slightly.
It’s not a polished film by any stretch. It’s an uneven, messy, noisy fever dream. You can tell they were just figuring out the rhythm of the slapstick, and sometimes it lands, but usually, it just feels like a bunch of people shouting in a room. Classic.
I think I enjoyed the chaos more than I should have. It lacks the smooth edges of later stuff, but there’s a raw, jagged energy to it that you just don't see anymore. It’s not a good movie, but it is a memorable one for all the wrong reasons.