This short comedy about the humorous effects of "Laughing Gas" is pleasantly silly and enjoyable, getting the most out of a simple story idea. It is also by no means without interest purely in cinematic terms, as it has at least a couple of aspects that make it worth remembering.
The story follows a woman who is given "laughing gas" by a dentist, and who continues to feel the effects of it long afterward. It is mostly a series of comic vignettes that place her in a variety of situations. The comedienne who plays the lead role is lively and engaging, and she makes it easy to believe the effect that her sudden good humor has on others.
One notable feature is the 'before' and 'after' close-ups of the main character. At the time, close-ups were still an uncommon innovation, and for a film to include them meant that someone did a little creative thinking, instead of relying solely on commonplace methods.
It is also interesting that the actress who plays Mandy, the main character, is African-American. It is of course purely a comic role, and it was by no means the norm in 1907 for minorities to be featured in starring roles. But it does seem to have been more common at the time than it would become in later decades.
With a funny, good-natured story plus some other points of interest, "Laughing Gas" is certainly worth seeing and remembering for fans of silent comedy.
