The Old Barn

By the time this short film was made, Mack Sennett's fame was definitely on the decline. The once King of Slapstick in the 1910s was by now a second-rate producer of comedies that had lost their way. Unlike his rival, Hal Roach, the transition to talkies was not especially smooth and the visual style of Sennett comedies was ill-suited for talking pictures.

This film is no exception to the decline of Sennett. This country comedy is plagued by two major problems. First, and most serious of them is that it just isn't funny. There are a few really corny jokes but otherwise there doesn't seem to be an attempt to make it funny or interesting. Second, in the end, the plot becomes hopelessly muddled and makes very little sense--with lots of plot elements coming out of nowhere'.

Please, do yourself a favor and find another comedy--this one is, just like the Sennett mascot, for the dogs.