Troye Review: A Weird Soviet Clothes-Swap Comedy That Actually Works

Is this worth watching today? Only if you like seeing how weird the 1920s could get. If you are a fan of silent comedies that don't take themselves too seriously, you'll dig it. If you need high-definition explosions and a plot that makes perfect sense, stay far away from this one.

It is basically a Prince and the Pauper situation, but with more Soviet politics and dirt. We have three kids: the 'good' Communist, the 'spoiled' rich kid, and the street thug. They trade outfits to see what happens.

Vladimir Mayakovsky wrote this, which is the main reason I even clicked play. You can feel his aggressive, punchy style in the way the scenes are cut. It does not feel like a dusty museum piece. It feels like someone shoving a story at you.

The street kid is by far the best part. He has this look in his eyes like he might actually bite the other actors if the camera stays on him too long. His 'new' life as a rich kid is just him looking confused by forks.

There is a scene where they are changing clothes and the editing is so fast it’s almost dizzying. It reminded me a bit of the frantic energy in George the Winner. It is that specific kind of silent movie slapstick that feels like it’s running on too much caffeine.

The 'exemplary' Communist boy is kind of annoying, to be honest. He’s too perfect. His hair stays neat even when he's supposed to be a mess. You kind of want the street kid to punch him at least once.

The film is based on O. Henry, but it feels nothing like his usual stuff. It’s messier. More chaotic. It lacks that polished feeling you get in something like A Scandal in Bohemia.

I noticed a smudge on the camera lens during one of the indoor scenes. It stayed there for about three minutes. Once you see it, you can't look at anything else. It’s very distracting.

The rich kid's house looks like it was decorated by someone who had only heard about wealth in a scary story. Everything is slightly too big and looks very uncomfortable. He looks much happier once he's wearing rags.

Some of the titles are incredibly long. I found myself waiting for the actors to start moving again. But when they do move, it’s all arms and legs everywhere.

The street thug's hat is a character of its own. It’s so greasy it practically shines. I wonder if they had to burn it after filming wrapped.

It’s not as emotionally heavy as Fires of Youth. This is strictly for laughs, even if the laughs are a bit pointed. It is trying to teach a lesson about class, but it mostly just shows that kids are weird regardless of how much money they have.

The ending comes out of nowhere. It just sort of... stops. No big wrap-up. No grand finale. Just a 'the end' and you're left sitting there wondering what happened to the clothes they traded.

I liked it, though. It’s got a personality. It’s a bit broken and the acting is way over the top, but it has a soul. Sometimes that is enough for a Tuesday night movie.