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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. Slow Poke remains a cornerstone of transgressive art.
Honestly, you only watch Slow Poke if you have a weird fascination with early-cinema pacing or if you just really, really need a nap. If you enjoy slapstick that moves at the speed of a snail in a sunbeam, you might get a kick out of this. If you get annoyed by characters who won't just get up and do the thing, stay far away. You will probably want to throw your remote at the screen.
The whole premise is just one long joke about how lazy one man can possibly be. His wife is trying to launch a career on the radio, which is a big deal, right? But he acts like even breathing is a chore. It is almost impressive, in a deeply frustrating way, how much effort he puts into avoiding effort.
There is this one scene where the furniture seems to have more personality than the protagonist. It feels like the director just let the camera roll while everyone waited for something to happen. It is quiet. Too quiet. Then someone sighs, and it sounds like a thunderstorm in that empty living room.
I couldn't help but compare the sluggishness here to the chaotic energy in Playin' Hookey. In that one, the movement felt intentional, like a dance. Here, it feels like the film itself is falling asleep on the job. It makes you realize how much work it actually takes to make a 'lazy' character entertaining.
It is definitely a relic of a different era. You can feel the age in the crackle of the audio and the way the shadows crawl across the floorboards. Sometimes, I think the movie is actually mocking its own pace. Or maybe I am just projecting.
If you want a movie that is actually doing things, maybe go watch Lady for a Day instead. It has a pulse. This one? It is just a hammock of a movie. Take it for what it is, or skip it entirely. You won't miss much either way. 😴