The Tabasco Kid: Old school slapstick that mostly just wanders around

Is it worth your time?

If you have a soft spot for 1920s-style shorts where everyone runs around in circles, you'll probably get a kick out of The Tabasco Kid. If you need a plot that makes sense or characters that aren't just loud costumes, skip it. It’s barely a movie; it’s more like a series of sketches glued together with ranch dust.

The whole thing hinges on this accountant who is so timid he probably says 'excuse me' to his own shadows. He’s the opposite of our bandit, who has all the charisma of a guy trying too hard at a costume party. Watching them fight over the rancher's daughter is less of a romance and more of a chore.

Cinematic perspective: Exploring the visual vocabulary of The Tabasco Kid (1932) through its definitive frames.

Odd bits and pieces

• The ranch sets look like they were made of cardboard left out in the rain.
• There’s a moment where a character trips over literally nothing. It’s supposed to be funny, but it just feels like the actor was tired.
• The pacing is frantic, then dead, then frantic again. It’s exhausting.

I couldn't help but think about how much more grounded something like Robbers' Roost feels compared to this. Here, the 'bandit' stuff feels like a play put on by people who have only ever heard of the Wild West from a comic book. There's no grit, just a lot of exaggerated faces.

There is a scene near the middle where they sit down for dinner. It lasts for an eternity. The dialogue is just people yelling over each other while the camera sits perfectly still. It’s painfully awkward. I think the editor might have just fallen asleep at the desk.

Cinematic perspective: Exploring the visual vocabulary of The Tabasco Kid (1932) through its definitive frames.

If you’re looking for a serious western, you’re in the wrong place. This is just a goofy relic. It reminded me a bit of the aimless energy in Poor Relations, where things happen simply because the script says so, not because anyone actually wanted to do them. 🤠

It’s not a bad way to kill twenty minutes if you're bored. Just don't go in expecting a masterpiece. It's a B-movie at best, and a C-movie if you’re being honest with yourself.