Why Pardon My Scotch still holds up

Is it worth your time?

If you've ever had a long day and just need to watch three grown men hit each other with household objects, then yes, Pardon My Scotch is exactly the medicine you need. It’s for the fans of pure, unadulterated slapstick who don't mind a plot that’s thinner than the liquid inside that fake Scotch barrel.

If you prefer your comedies to have, I don't know, a point? Or maybe if you find people getting poked in the eyes stressful, stay away. This is pure chaos.

The whole thing kicks off in a drugstore, which is basically the perfect setting for these guys to mess things up. Seeing Moe, Larry, and Curly try to mix chemicals is like watching a slow-motion disaster. You just know something is going to blow up, and you’re just waiting for the exact second it happens.

The transition to them pretending to be Scotsmen is honestly one of the funniest bits they ever did. I’m not sure who thought a kilt on Curly was a good idea, but I’m glad they did. The accent work? It’s terrible. It’s absolutely grating. And that's the whole point.

Oddly specific things I noticed:

• The way Curly handles a cocktail shaker looks like he’s trying to fight a ghost.
• The party guests look genuinely annoyed in the background, which might not even be acting.
• The final scene where the house floods is surprisingly messy for a movie from this era.

There’s a weird rhythm to these shorts that you don't see in modern stuff. It’s fast, then it stops for a weird physical gag, then it’s fast again. It’s not smooth, but it doesn't need to be. It’s just them being them.

I found myself comparing it to the pacing in Mickey's Wild West, which feels much more contained. Here, the Stooges just refuse to stay in the lines. They are constantly trying to break the frame.

The middle of the film sags a bit when they're actually trying to 'act' at the party. You can almost feel the movie waiting for the moment they can finally start throwing things. Once the booze starts flowing, the movie finds its heartbeat again.

It isn't a masterpiece. It’s not going to change your life. But watching a barrel of fake booze explode and ruin a fancy party? That’s timeless. 🍻