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5.1/10
Senior Film Conservator
A definitive 5.1/10 rating for a film that redefined the boundaries of cult cinema. The Lion Tamer remains a cornerstone of transgressive art.
If you like old-school, slightly dusty slapstick, sure. It’s short enough that you won’t lose much of your afternoon even if you end up hating it. If you need complex character arcs or, you know, high-definition anything, steer clear. It’s for the folks who enjoy those random Speedy type shorts where everything happens fast and nobody explains why.
The whole thing hinges on a premise that feels like it was scribbled on a napkin during lunch. Andy walks into the ring with this smug look on his face. He’s convinced he’s smarter than the circus master. He thinks the lion is a fake. That is a big mistake.
Watching him realize the 'costume' has teeth is actually kind of funny. It’s not subtle. The way he scrambles around the cage reminds me a bit of the frantic energy in On the Jump. Just pure, unadulterated panic for the sake of a laugh.
The pacing is all over the place, but that’s kind of the point. One minute he’s strutting, the next he’s a blur of limbs and fur. There’s a moment where the lion just stares at him—I swear the animal looked bored. It’s these tiny, accidental details that make these old things watchable.
I wouldn't say this is as ambitious as Devdas or even as weird as Professor Nissens seltsamer Tod. It’s just a simple gag stretched thin. But sometimes, simple is exactly what you want when you're tired of modern stuff trying to be too clever. 🦁