DbcultAccessing Vault...
7.2/10
Senior Film Conservator
A definitive 7.2/10 rating for a film that redefined the boundaries of cult cinema. Pack Up Your Troubles remains a cornerstone of transgressive art.
If you like the classic, bumbling energy of Laurel and Hardy, absolutely. It’s got that specific, gentle chaos they mastered. If you’re looking for a tight, logical plot, you’re in the wrong place. The movie is basically just a series of rooms these two walk into and break, which is exactly why I watched it.
The transition from the trenches of WWI to the quiet, dusty hallways of a boarding house is jarring. One minute they’re dealing with artillery shells, the next they’re trying to navigate a polite living room. It’s a weird tonal shift, but somehow it works because Stan and Ollie never seem to notice the difference.
The kid, little Jackie, is surprisingly natural. She doesn't have that super polished 'child actor' vibe that ruins so many of these older films. She just kind of exists alongside the chaos, which makes the whole thing feel a bit more grounded. It reminded me a little of the messy dynamics in The Revolt, even if the stakes here are way lower.
There is a scene involving a fireplace that I am 90% sure is the reason for half the slapstick comedy of the next decade. It’s messy, it’s loud, and it’s completely unnecessary to the plot. I loved it.
The movie isn't trying to be a deep, meaningful commentary on war. It’s just two guys who don't have a clue what they're doing, trying to be good people. Sometimes they fail so hard it’s hard to watch. Other times, it’s just pure, dumb luck that saves them.
Honestly, the pacing is all over the place. Some scenes drag while they figure out how to stand in a doorway, and others fly by in a blink. It’s not a perfect movie, but it feels human. It feels like they were having fun on set, and that energy still carries over almost a century later. 🎩✨
