Wiggle Your Ears is a weirdly relatable look at childhood desperation

Is this worth watching today? Honestly, yes, but only if you have a soft spot for the Our Gang kids and don't mind a plot that revolves entirely around facial muscles.

If you like seeing kids act like actual kids—messy, loud, and slightly delusional—you will probably find this charming. People who hate old-fashioned slapstick or silent-era holdovers will definitely want to stay away. 🐭

The whole thing is built on such a simple idea. Harry Spear can wiggle his ears, and apparently, in 1929, that was the equivalent of having a Lamborghini and a six-pack.

Mary Ann Jackson is just absolutely mesmerized by it. The way she looks at him is so sincere it’s almost uncomfortable to watch as an adult.

But the real star here is Joe Cobb. Poor, desperate Joe.

He wants Mary Ann to look at him the same way, but his ears are just... stationary. It’s a tragedy in one act, really. 🎭

I found myself rooting for him even though his plan is objectively insane. He decides that if his body won't cooperate, he will just force it to work using household supplies.

The scene where he uses string and chewing gum to try and rig his ears to move is pure gold. It’s the kind of DIY disaster that only a kid would think is a good idea.

You can see the gum stretching and it looks incredibly sticky. I kept thinking about how much that must have hurt to pull off after the cameras stopped rolling.

There is a moment where the string catches, and Joe’s face does this weird, distorted twitch. It’s actually hilarious because he looks so proud of himself for a second.

It reminds me a bit of the physical comedy in Double Whoopee, though maybe a little less polished. Which is fine, because these are children, not Laurel and Hardy.

The pacing is a bit weird, though. Some of the reaction shots from the other kids go on for a few beats too long.

You can almost hear the director off-camera telling them to "keep looking surprised!" while nothing is actually happening. It gives the whole thing a dream-like, slightly awkward energy.

Farina is there too, mostly just reacting to the chaos. I’ve always liked Farina’s expressions because they feel more natural than the other kids.

Also, we have to talk about Pal the Dog. He’s just sitting there, probably wondering why these humans are obsessed with their ears.

There’s a bit where Wheezer shows up and he’s just so tiny it’s distracting. He doesn't really do much for the plot, but he's just there, being a toddler.

Cinematic perspective: Exploring the visual vocabulary of Wiggle Your Ears (1929) through its definitive frames.

I noticed the background in the outdoor scenes looks really dusty. It makes the whole world feel very tactile and real, unlike the shiny sets you see in The Small Town Girl.

The writing by H.M. Walker has that typical 1920s snappiness, even if the "sound" version feels a bit clunky. You can tell they were still figuring out how to balance the dialogue with the physical gags.

Harry Spear’s character is kind of a jerk, to be honest. He’s wiggling his ears for Jean Darling while Mary Ann is right there pining for him.

It’s a classic elementary school love quadrangle. Or maybe a pentagon? I lost track of who liked who halfway through.

I think the movie gets better once the gum comes out. Before that, it’s just a lot of kids standing around in a yard talking about their feelings.

Once Joe starts rigging his head with pulleys, the movie finds its rhythm. It’s just pure, chaotic energy.

I did find myself wondering why nobody told Joe his plan was visible from a mile away. The strings are not exactly subtle.

But that’s the charm of these shorts, I guess. Everyone just accepts the absurdity of the situation.

It’s definitely not as grand as something like Robin Hood. But it doesn't need to be.

It’s just a movie about a kid who wants a girl to like him and ends up with sticky ears. We've all been there, in a way. 🍭

The ending feels a bit abrupt, like they just ran out of film or the kids got tired of acting. It doesn't really wrap up the "romance" in any satisfying way.

But then again, childhood crushes don't usually have satisfying endings anyway. They just sort of fade away when the next cool trick comes along.

If you've seen The Goofy Age, you know this kind of vibe. It's that specific brand of 1920s kid humor that is both sweet and slightly unhinged.

I’d say give it a watch if you want something light. It won't change your life, but it might make you check the mirror to see if you can wiggle your own ears.

I tried it after the credits rolled. I can't do it either. Poor Joe, I feel your pain.

Random things I noticed:

• The hats the boys wear are way too big for their heads.
• The way Mary Ann tilts her head is actually really good acting for a kid.
• I’m pretty sure that gum was real and probably tasted like peppermint and dirt.
• The lighting in the shed scene is surprisingly moody for a comedy short.

Overall, it’s a clunky but lovable piece of history. Just don't expect any deep philosophical breakthroughs.

It’s just kids being weird. And sometimes, that’s all a movie needs to be. ✌️