In the 1920s, the most successful film comedian was Harold Lloyd-- even more successful than his competitors, Buster Keaton and Charlie Chaplin. However, in 1918 when this film was made, Lloyd still hadn't hit his stride and created truly memorable films. Instead, he was making rather forgettable films in which his character was unimportant...it was just slapstick. Let me explain the difference. In the 20s, Lloyd succeeded because folks came to like the characters he played--sweet guys with a lot of gumption. But in slapstick, the characters are unimportant and what is important are gags and pratfalls...in other words, cheap laughs.
Here in "Take a Chance", the film is nothing but cheap laughs. So even though Lloyd finally was not playing his very forgettable Lonesome Luke character and looks like the guy he was in the 20s, he didn't act the least like him. Together, he, Sub Pollard and Bebe Daniels simply were interchangeable characters...all seeking quick laughs and nothing more. Because of this, the situations they put the three in weren't so important but laughs were...though when seen today this is an amazingly unfunny and even tedious film. What do an unattractive lady who likes to kiss men, Lloyd stealing a girl from Snub or an escaped convict have to do with each other? Nothing...and the film comes off as disjoint and forced. Back in the slapstick era folks might have laughed at folks getting bonked on the head and the like, but when seen today the film just seems tiresome and a waste of really talented actors.
