When Oliver gets a call from the poker game, he sees an opportunity. He pretends the boss is calling with a job at the Orpheum Theater. The guys leave their wives behind and head out.
On their way to the game, they pass two women, one of whom has lost her hat underneath a parked car. Ever the gentlemen, our heroes push the car out of the way to retrieve the hat. Unfortunately, they slip and fall into a puddle left by a passing street cleaner.
The women feel guilty and invite Laurel and Hardy back to their apartment to dry their clothes. Things are going well until the husband of one of the women arrives home. Our heroes quickly throw on their clothes and head out a window.
Meanwhile, the wives have received the newspaper announcing that the Orpheum Theater has burned to the ground. Realizing that their husbands have lied, they set out to find the men.
Laurel and Hardy are having problems of their own. In their hasty exit, they've accidentally put on the wrong pants. Their efforts to correct this situation attract the eye of a policeman. Soon the pair are being chased around the town and to the top of a construction site.
Can Laurel and Hardy escape from the situation they find themselves in? Will their wives believe a word they say? And how does a pincer-happy crab figure into the situation?
I couldn't leave 1928 without introducing myself to what's considered one of the great comedy teams of all time. I'm only passingly familiar with Laurel and Hardy, so this is definitely one of those blind spots in need of correction.
And having seen We Faw Down, it's easy to understand the duo's appeal. Their characters are perfect foils for one another. They are physically different, but with very complimentary personalities. It's a formula we've seen in Hollywood from its beginnings and it works brilliantly here.
That said, I probably see more promise for the future in We Faw Down than a classic film. It's smile inducing, but never hysterical. The punchlines can be seen a mile away in most cases. It's entertaining to be sure, but never as funny as it thinks it is...
...Until the last shot. The last shot is so shocking and funny, I won't spoil it here. It ties so well into a moment earlier in the film and provides a great source of irony for our beleaguered couples.
We Faw Down is a good solid entry from Laurel and Hardy and a fine introduction for a neophyte like me. Not a home run, but a nice single. Looking forward to tracking them in future years.
*** out of *****
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