Thicker Than Water: A Clock, A Hospital, and Some Really Strange Blood

Is it worth your time?

If you like watching two guys try to be responsible adults and failing spectacularly, yeah, you should watch this. It’s peak Laurel and Hardy domestic chaos. If you hate slapstick or get annoyed by people who just can't seem to get their life together, you might want to skip it.

There is something inherently funny about Ollie buying a grandfather clock when his bank account clearly screams 'no.' It’s that specific kind of stubborn pride that makes his character so watchable. You just know it’s going to end in disaster, and watching him try to justify the purchase to his wife is a masterclass in awkward stalling.

The transition from the kitchen sink to the hospital bed happens faster than you’d think. It’s almost jarring how quickly things fall apart once that clock enters the house. It’s not subtle, but then again, these movies never really were.

The transfusion bit

When Stan shows up to donate blood, the movie shifts into that classic weird territory where they act like they’ve swapped personalities. It’s a bit silly, sure, but it works because of how they play off each other. Seeing Ollie start to act like Stan is just... uncomfortable in the funniest way possible. It’s like watching a train wreck where the train starts singing opera.

I noticed that the hospital scenes feel a lot tighter than the stuff back at the house. Maybe it’s just the white walls, but the jokes land with a bit more punch there. The way James Finlayson shows up to cause trouble is always a treat, even if he’s barely on screen for a minute. He has that face that just begs for a slap, doesn't he?

• That grandfather clock is definitely a character in itself.
• The dialogue is sparse, but the physical stuff carries the load easily.
• Honestly, I’m still not sure if the blood transfusion stuff is brilliant or just complete nonsense. Probably both. 🤡

It’s not as dark or surreal as something like White Zombie, but it’s got its own strange rhythm. You aren't watching this for the medical accuracy, obviously. You’re watching it to see Ollie get into a mess he can’t clean up.

The ending doesn't really 'resolve' anything, which I actually kind of liked. It just sort of stops, leaving you to imagine how much worse the next week is going to be for them. Sometimes that’s the best way to end a short comedy—just leave them in the middle of a disaster and walk away.