Strictly Unreliable: When Vaudeville Goes Wrong

Is this worth your time?

If you like watching people try to keep their cool while everything falls apart, yes. This is a must-watch for fans of classic comedy duos who don't mind a bit of clunkiness. If you’re looking for a tight, high-concept plot, you’ll probably find this frustrating. It’s loose, it’s frantic, and it doesn't care about your need for logic.

The whole thing hinges on Zasu Pitts just being, well, Zasu. She has this way of looking at a camera that makes you think she’s about to cry or faint, usually both at the same time. Watching her try to navigate a vaudeville stage is like watching a nervous bird try to park a truck.

Thelma Todd is the perfect foil here. She’s all polish and poise, trying to keep the act moving while Zasu is in the background causing minor, hilarious destruction. There’s a specific bit where a prop just refuses to cooperate, and the way Thelma glances at it—you can tell she’s genuinely annoyed. It wasn't scripted, or at least it didn't feel like it. It felt like a real, human moment of 'are you kidding me right now?'

Some random notes:

• The stage setup looks like it was put together five minutes before the cameras started rolling.
• Billy Gilbert pops up and somehow manages to be the loudest person in the room without even trying.
• The pacing is a bit all over the place, kind of like The Latest in Pants, but somehow it works because the energy is so high.
• I swear there’s a moment where a stagehand is visible in the corner for a split second. Maybe. Who knows.

It’s not as polished as The Air Circus, but that’s fine. I’m tired of movies that feel like they’ve been sanded down until all the character is gone. Strictly Unreliable has rough edges, and those edges are exactly where the fun happens.

Also, the ending is abrupt. It just... stops. Like someone cut the reel with a pair of rusty scissors. I kind of loved that. No big speech, no moral lesson. Just curtains. 🎬