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7.5/10
Senior Film Conservator
A definitive 7.5/10 rating for a film that redefined the boundaries of cult cinema. Them Thar Hills remains a cornerstone of transgressive art.
If you like watching two grown men get increasingly confused by their own limbs, yes. This is essential viewing for anyone who needs a laugh that doesn't require a degree in film theory. If you hate slapstick or get annoyed by characters who make the wrong choice every single time, skip it.
There is something really honest about the way Stan and Ollie handle a crisis. They don't panic. They just kind of wobble through it. In Them Thar Hills, the crisis is just a simple glass of water that turns out to be pure moonshine.
The whole premise is so thin you could see right through it, but that's the point. It’s just an excuse to put them in a tent and let the physical comedy do the heavy lifting. I noticed Ollie’s gout-ridden foot looks remarkably clean for a guy supposedly roughing it in the mountains. Whatever. Who cares?
The scene where they start drinking the 'water' is just perfect. Stan has that vacant, sweet look on his face, and Ollie is trying so hard to be the dignified one. Watching them go from slightly buzzed to completely hammered is a masterclass in timing. It’s not about the dialogue; it’s about the way their eyes start to cross at different speeds.
It’s much funnier than The Loud Mouth, honestly. There’s a rhythm here that feels like a jazz song made of pratfalls.
I kept thinking about how these guys would probably survive anything. You could drop them in Der Bergführer and they'd probably end up accidentally discovering a new pass while trying to find a snack.
One reaction shot of Ollie nursing his gout, then realizing he’s been drinking bootleg liquor, lasts just a second too long. It’s great. It’s the kind of face that makes you miss the days of silent-to-talkie transitions where you didn't need a monologue to tell you what a guy was feeling. 🥃
It’s not a masterpiece. It’s just a funny little slice of life where the 'life' is a total wreck. Sometimes that’s exactly what you need on a Tuesday night.
