What Fur: A Snapshot of 1920s Chaos

Is it worth your time?

If you have a soft spot for the frantic energy of 1920s short comedies, sure. It’s light, it’s fast, and it doesn't overstay its welcome. If you need a tight script or deep character arcs, you’re looking at the wrong place. This is for people who enjoy seeing someone like Edgar Kennedy sweat through a predicament.

The whole thing hinges on a single photo. That’s it. It’s the kind of premise that fueled a thousand sitcom episodes later on, but here, it’s just pure, unadulterated panic.

Edgar Kennedy has this specific way of looking at the camera when he’s stressed. You know the look. His eyes go wide, his mouth twitches, and you can practically see his brain trying to invent a lie that won't get him in more trouble. It’s genuinely funny in a way that feels almost primitive, like a cartoon character before the ink was even dry.

There’s a moment where the physical comedy feels like it’s teetering on the edge of just being loud noise. It happens during the bit in the living room—the furniture shuffling feels a bit desperate. But then Florence Lake hits a note of confusion that pulls the whole scene back together. She doesn't have much to do, but she makes it count.

I couldn't help but compare the pacing here to something like The College Boob. Both have that 'everything is falling apart' vibe, but What Fur feels a bit more like a rehearsal for a bigger disaster that never quite arrives.

• The photo is comically large. Seriously, who prints them that size for a prank?
• The way Charlie Hall keeps popping into the frame is just weird.
• I think I spotted a shadow of the boom mic, or maybe it was just a smudge on the film stock.
• The ending is... abrupt. Like they ran out of film and just decided 'that's enough.'

It’s not a masterpiece. It’s just a funny little artifact. 🎞️ Sometimes that’s all you need on a Tuesday afternoon when your own life feels a bit too complicated. It’s nice to watch someone else handle a crisis, even if they're handling it by just running around in circles.

Don't look for logic. There isn't any. Just watch the faces.