DbcultAccessing Vault...
6.9/10
Senior Film Conservator
A definitive 6.9/10 rating for a film that redefined the boundaries of cult cinema. Twice Two remains a cornerstone of transgressive art.
Okay, so you gotta ask yourself: do you like Laurel and Hardy? Because if you do, Twice Two is absolutely worth 20 minutes of your time. If you’re not into classic slapstick, or if the very idea of two grown men in drag makes you cringe, then maybe skip this one. But for anyone who appreciates a good old-fashioned absurdity with a side of chaos, settle in. This is a prime example of what made them click.
The whole premise is just wild. Stan and Ollie are married to each other’s sisters. Think about that for a second. They’re celebrating their mutual anniversaries together. Immediately, your brain goes, "Wait, what?"
And then they show you. Stan Laurel plays Mrs. Hardy, complete with a wig and a rather unfortunate dress. Oliver Hardy plays Mrs. Laurel, and honestly, he’s a bit more convincing, in a really *strange* way. He has this stern, almost regal bearing even as his character is supposed to be Stan’s wife. It's truly something else. 😂
The setup is a dinner party. Everything starts off civil, you know, as civil as it can get with these two. Ollie, as usual, tries to maintain some semblance of order and dignity. He’s trying to be the host, the patriarch. It’s doomed from the start.
There’s this one moment early on where Mrs. Laurel (Ollie) is giving Mrs. Hardy (Stan) a bit of a telling off. The way Ollie holds his hands, very proper, very much a disapproving lady. Then Stan just sort of wilts, all passive-aggressive. It’s such a tiny thing but it *sells* the whole ridiculous concept.
You can see the sparks flying between the "couples" right from the get-go. Stan, as Stan, is his usual bumbling self. He spills things. He breaks things. Mrs. Hardy (played by Stan) is equally clumsy, almost like an exaggerated version of his own typical character. It's a nice mirror effect.
The argument really kicks off over a misunderstanding about who said what. It just escalates, as it always does with them. From snippy remarks to shouting, then to throwing food. The sheer amount of cake that gets thrown, wow. It's glorious chaos.
At one point, Mrs. Hardy (Stan) starts crying hysterically, and it’s just this *awful* wail. It goes on for a beat too long, and you almost feel awkward watching it. Like, "Okay, we get it, she's upset." But then Ollie (as himself) tries to console her, and it just makes things worse. Always.
The wives end up fighting with their husbands. So, Mrs. Hardy is slapping Stan, and Mrs. Laurel is whacking Ollie. It's a double dose of their usual dynamic, just with extra wigs. It’s such a clever, simple way to double down on their classic squabbles.
And the way they use the props! A dinner table can become a battlefield so quickly. Plates are flying. Cake is everywhere. The whole room just descends into this sticky mess. They really committed to the destruction, even for a short film.
There's a scene where Ollie is trying to carry Mrs. Laurel (his own sister, remember) up the stairs, and he just keeps slipping. It’s not a big complex stunt, just a simple, repeated physical gag that gets funnier because of his exasperated grunts. You can almost feel his back hurting. 😫
This film doesn't try to be anything deep. It's just pure, unadulterated Laurel and Hardy. They take a bizarre premise and run with it, letting the comedy come from their established personas, amplified by the cross-dressing angle. It’s a bit dated, sure, but the core humor still lands. Especially if you appreciate that kind of slow-burn, escalating disaster they were masters of.
It's not their absolute funniest, maybe, but it’s definitely one to revisit if you want to see them push the boundaries of their usual character dynamics. A real oddity in their filmography, in the best way possible. You know, for a short film, it really packs a punch. Or a pie, rather. 🥧
IMDb 6.6
1932
Community
Log in to comment.
