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7.2/10
Senior Film Conservator
A definitive 7.2/10 rating for a film that redefined the boundaries of cult cinema. They Go Boom! remains a cornerstone of transgressive art.
This short, They Go Boom!, is an absolute blast if you’ve got a soft spot for classic slapstick and the sheer, unhinged chaos that only Laurel and Hardy could deliver. It’s definitely worth a watch today, especially if you need a quick, hearty laugh. If you like your comedy physical, a bit silly, and without a single thought about being subtle, you’ll dig this. However, if you're expecting modern wit or a deep narrative, you'll probably just scratch your head. This isn’t for the easily offended or those who can't stand old movies.
So, Ollie's got a nasty cold, see? And Stan, bless his cotton socks, decides he's going to be the doctor. You know, as one does when their pal is sniffling and sneezing in their tiny apartment. This is where things, predictably, go completely off the rails.
First up, Stan tries to swab Ollie’s throat. He ends up dropping the whole thing down there! 🤦♀️ The look on Ollie’s face when he’s trying to cough it back up is just priceless. You can almost feel the struggle, the sheer desperation.
Then comes the mustard plaster. Oh, the mustard plaster. It's supposed to help, but Stan, being Stan, manages to apply it to Ollie's _rump_. The sequence of Ollie trying to deal with this spicy surprise, wriggling around in bed, it’s just pure, unadulterated physical comedy gold. The guy is practically bouncing off the walls.
But the real showstopper, the bit that makes the title "They Go Boom!" feel so right, is the air mattress. Stan decides to inflate it with the gas jet. From the wall! 🤯 You just know this isn't going to end well. And it doesn't. The mattress just keeps expanding, slowly, _insidiously_, until poor Ollie is pressed right up against the ceiling. It’s such a simple gag, but the pacing of it, the *inevitability* of it, is just brilliant.
The landlady, played by Charlie Hall, is constantly popping in and out, her expressions getting more and more exasperated. Her face when she sees Ollie stuck to the ceiling, like some human balloon, is a whole movie in itself. She's just trying to run a respectable boarding house, and these two are… well, they're Laurel and Hardy.
It's a short film, so it moves fast, jumping from one insane attempt at "treatment" to the next. You don't get much time to think, just to react. The whole thing happens in this one small room, which actually makes the chaos feel even bigger. It's almost claustrophobic, but in a funny way.
There's this one moment where Stan is just fiddling with the gas jet, completely oblivious to the impending disaster. It's so subtle, but it's *peak* Stan. He's not malicious, just utterly, blissfully unaware of cause and effect. And Ollie, poor Ollie, just resigned to his fate, or trying to explain what's happening through a mouthful of blanket.
Honestly, it’s not about profound themes or deep characters. It’s about two guys, a cold, and a series of increasingly ridiculous mishaps. It reminds you how good these two were at just making you laugh with a look, a gesture. It’s the kind of film that makes you feel a little bit nostalgic for a time when comedy didn't need to be so complicated. Just good, honest, destructive fun. 👍
IMDb —
1926
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