Unaccustomed As We Are

It would take a couple of talkie films before Stan and Ollie adapted to the new medium of sound but they soon did. Released in 1929, "Unaccustomed As We Are" is about Ollie inviting Stan to an evening meal with he and Mrs. Hardy - and that soon finishes in anarchy! Mae Busch is once again cast as Mrs. Hardy and does very well. Edgar Kennedy is cast again as a Police officer who lives across the hall from Ollie and his wife. Thelma Todd plays the wife of Officer Kennedy and she shows how feisty she can be! The comedy is a bit awkward at times but that isn't the fault of Laurel and Hardy, it was only a temporary problem. There are some funny scenes, such as when the boys play a gramophone record to drown out Mrs. Hardy's constant nagging!

Considering this was the boy's first talkie the title of this short is quite cute and the film itself is pretty good. There's certainly not that much evidence that L&H were embarking on what was essentially a new career in sound. It must have been a real bonus for their fans to discover how well suited each one's voice was suited to their character. The film's plot is a familiar one of marital spats and misunderstandings culminating in L&H trying to conceal their comely semi-naked neighbour (a sexy Thelma Todd) from Ollie's shrewish wife (Mae Busch) and Todd's jealous husband (Edgar Kennedy).

There's some interesting experimentation with sound here. Hardy and Busch's dialogue overlaps as they argue and it's oddly compelling - as well as funny. The physical comedy is still there too, with numerous pratfalls and a couple of explosions. All in all, an accomplished sound debut from the boys..

Early on while watching Laurel & Hardy's "Unaccustomed As We Are" I figured out that the plot was going to be similar to their later "Block-Heads", with Ollie bringing Stan home, only to have his wife get angry at his expectations of her (the later movie expanded the plot). This 1929 short has the guys doing their usual stuff, and in some scenes I could predict what was about to happen. Predictable though some of it may be, the whole thing is a fun romp. It's not their best, but I recommend it.

Noticeably absent is James Finlayson, whose annoyed grunt inspired Homer Simpson's catchphrase.

Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy were comedic geniuses, individually and together, and their partnership was deservedly iconic and one of the best there was. They left behind a large body of work, a vast majority of it being entertaining to classic comedy, at their best they were hilarious and their best efforts were great examples of how to do comedy without being juvenile or distasteful.

Although a vast majority of Laurel and Hardy's previous efforts ranged from above average to very good ('45 Minutes from Hollywood' being the only misfire and mainly worth seeing as a curiosity piece and for historical interest, and even that wasn't a complete mess), 'Two Tars' for me was their first truly classic one with close to flawless execution. Didn't find 'Unaccustomed As We Are' as one of their best and a bit disappointing compared to their late 1928 and previous 1929 efforts, which were among their best and funniest early work. It is still good and of interest historically, being their first talkie. It's strange at first but it works well and the dialogue itself is a lot of fun.

It may not be "new" material as such and the first part takes a little bit too time to get going.

Compared to the late 1928 and previous 1929 output, it is a little on the subdued and bland side, contrary to the insane craziness and wacky slapstick that was properly starting to emerge.

When 'Unaccustomed as We Are' does get going, which it does do very quickly, it is good enough fun, not always hilarious but never less than very amusing. It is never too silly, a wackiness that never loses its energy and the sly wit emerges here, some of the material may not be new but how it's executed actually doesn't feel too familiar and it doesn't get repetitive.

Laurel and Hardy are on top form here, both are well used, both have material worthy of them and they're equal rather than one being funnier than the other (before Laurel tended to be funnier and more interesting than Hardy, who tended to be underused). Their chemistry feels like a partnership here too, before 'Two Tars' you were yearning for more scenes with them together but in 'Unaccustomed as We Are' we are far from robbed of that. Their comic timing is impeccable.

'Unaccustomed as We Are' looks good visually, is full of energy and the direction gets the best out of the stars, is at ease with the material and doesn't let it get too busy or static. The supporting players are solid.

Overall, very good. Not essential or classic Laurel and Hardy, but a good representation of them. 7/10 Bethany Cox

Laurel & Hardy getting in trouble with one or both wives has got too be the most used plot line in the long series of Laurel & Hardy movies. In this movie Oliver Hardy gets into trouble with his wife when she is fed up with cooking for every friend that her husband takes home.

The story sounds simple and so is the movie. It's simple but effective. The comical situations work out well and it makes this movie a worthy first 'talkie' for the two boys. It's not their best or most original movie but it serves its purpose. The plot line for this movie was later reused for the other Laurel & Hardy picture; "Block-Heads", which to be honest is better executed in that movie and it's a more superior movie in general.

Nothing remarkable, just another fine executed and timed enjoyable comical short from Laurel & Hardy, with also the Laurel & Hardy regulars Thelma Todd, Mae Busch and Edgar Kennedy in it.

7/10

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