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4.6/10
Senior Film Conservator
A definitive 4.6/10 rating for a film that redefined the boundaries of cult cinema. Signing 'em Up remains a cornerstone of transgressive art.
Look, if you’re looking for a plot that hangs together like a sturdy bridge, Signing 'em Up is going to drive you absolutely bonkers. It’s essentially a collection of bits that feel like they were stitched together in a dark room. You’ll either love the scrappy, let's-just-see-what-sticks energy or you’ll be checking your watch every five minutes.
Bert Wheeler and Sydney Jarvis have this frantic, stop-and-start rhythm that feels more like a stage sketch that wandered onto a film set. There’s one scene where they’re trying to sign up for service, and the desk clerk’s reaction is so painfully dry that I laughed harder at his face than at anything the leads were actually doing.
The pacing is… well, it’s not really there. It just kind of happens to you. It’s got that same loose, slightly dazed feeling I got watching The Chimp, where you realize the movie doesn't actually care if you follow the story. It just wants to get to the next pratfall.
Is it worth your time today? Maybe. If you’re folding laundry or eating a sandwich and just want something that doesn't demand your soul. It’s not Arizona Days, that's for sure. It’s just… there.
It’s not a masterpiece. It’s barely a movie. But honestly? Sometimes I prefer that over something that’s trying too hard to be important. 🤷♂️
