One Good Turn Review: Laurel and Hardy at their most confused

If you have twenty minutes to spare today and want to see two grown men fail at being helpful, One Good Turn is a great pick. It is definitely for people who like that old-school slapstick where the plot is thin but the facial expressions are everything.

If you hate slow-burning gags or the 'misunderstanding' trope, you might find yourself wanting to yell at the screen. But honestly, it is classic Laurel and Hardy.

The movie starts with them being totally broke and hungry, which is how most of their best stuff begins. They are wandering around in their beat-up car, looking like they haven't eaten in a week.

They meet this very sweet old lady, played by Mary Carr, who gives them some food. She is so saintly it almost feels like a parody of every 'poor widow' character from the silent era.

There is this one bit where Stan is eating and he looks so genuinely happy about a sandwich. It’s a small thing, but his eyes do this weird little crinkle that makes you realize why people loved him.

Then they hear a man yelling about a mortgage inside the house. They are listening through the window like two nosy neighbors.

The man is James Finlayson, who has the best squint in movie history. He is shouting about throwing her out into the snow, and the boys get all worked up.

The catch is that he’s just rehearsing a play. They don't know that, because of course they don't.

"We must do something!"

They decide to sell their car to raise money for her. Watching them try to auction off a car that looks like it’s held together by spit and prayer is pretty great. 🚗

The crowd scenes have this oddly empty feeling, like half the extras wandered off to get lunch. There are only like ten people there, but Stan and Ollie act like they are at a giant festival.

One reaction shot of a guy in the crowd lingers so long it becomes funny. He just looks confused, which is probably how the actual actor felt about the script that day.

Eventually, Ollie finds some money in his own pocket that he forgot about. Or rather, Stan thinks Ollie stole the money from the old lady.

This leads to a really weird scene where Stan gets 'brave.' Usually, Stan is the wimp, but here he starts pushing Ollie around.

It’s a bit jarring to see Stan being the aggressor. It feels like the movie is trying to convince you this moment matters more than it does, but it's just weirdly aggressive for a comedy.

The pacing gets noticeably better once they stop the sentimental stuff and just start hitting each other. The physical comedy is what they do best, after all.

It reminds me a bit of the energy in Oh What a Knight, where everything is just a bit chaotic for no reason. Not as wild as Custard Pies, but it has its moments.

The Finlayson Factor

James Finlayson makes every movie better. Even when he isn't doing anything, his face just looks like a grumpy cartoon. 😠

The way he reacts to the boys when they finally confront him is pure gold. He does this double-take that feels like it takes three minutes to complete.

The ending is a bit abrupt. It doesn't really 'end' so much as it just stops when the jokes run out.

I like that about these old shorts. They don't feel the need to give you a big life lesson or a 'profound exploration' of anything.

It’s just two guys being idiots. Sometimes that is all you need on a Tuesday afternoon.

If you've seen things like A Regular Girl, you know how these 1930s movies can get a bit sappy. One Good Turn avoids the worst of that by keeping the boys focused on their own confusion.

• The car auction scene is the highlight.
• Stan's 'tough guy' act is genuinely strange to watch.
• The 'rehearsal' reveal is obvious but the boys' reactions sell it.

I noticed a small mistake where a prop on the table moves between shots. It’s the kind of thing you only see if you've watched these a million times like I have.

It makes the whole thing feel more human. Like they were just having fun on a set and didn't care about being perfect.

You can tell they were still figuring out how to use sound properly. Some of the silences feel a bit awkward, like they forgot to record background noise.

But the dialogue is sharp. Or at least, as sharp as it needs to be for Ollie to sound pompous and Stan to sound lost.

Overall? It's a solid 20 minutes. It won't change your life, but it'll make you smile at least twice. Maybe three times if you like seeing hats get crushed. 🎩