Popular reviews

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  Review by Richard Chandler ★★★ 15

  Greetings from New York City, where cuckoo and I were lucky enough to catch this endearing Laurel & Hardy short in which the renowned comic duo try to watch over a pair of rambunctious tykes played by themselves. I’m using my vacation rights to omit a full review—just wanted my dear readers to know we’re still alive.

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  Review by Benjamin Green ★★★★★

  You can lead a horse to water but a pencil must be led.

  First time watch: September 2021
  Source: Talking Pictures

  Brats is the 1930 comedy short directed by James Parrott. Starring Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy in dual roles the story sees the friends left in charge of their boys whilst the wives are out.

  An early contender for my favourite Laurel and Hardy short, you can't go wrong with them playing the role of children. Amongst their childish disastrous and destructive behaviour you get the added bonus of the incredibale oversized set designs which brings an additional level of fun. Between the cartoon mouse, large furniture and boxing bouts there are continuous moments of comedy that I loved from start to finish.

  Five Star Films List
  Laurel and Hardy Short Films List

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  Review by Wilson ★★★★ 4

  The Brats of the title are Laurel and Hardy's kids, played by Laurel and Hardy themselves, stood next to some giant props to give a wonderful illusion of small, child-like stature. Mini-Hardy, sans moustache, is a comic highpoint of this 20 minute short film. I loved the use of the oversized set, the increasingly violent silliness, Oliver Hardy's yodeling and economy of the runtime.

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  Review by loureviews ★★★★★

  The 'Brats' of the title are mini-Laurel and mini-Hardy, working with over-sized props to give the impression of kids into everything from a bathtub to a wooden chest of drawers.

  We find their dads playing a game of draughts (with suitable cheating) while the sons cause havoc and noise. After they are banished upstairs, the kids manage to half-wreck the place and set up a predictable, but still funny, pay-off.

  For the facial reactions, the clever set-ups, and Mr Hardy's singing (trying in vain to get the tots to sleep), 'Brats' scores high on the comedy list. There's genuinely good stuff in this short.

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  Review by nora ★★ 1

  i have yet to laugh at a laurel and hardy film BUT i did enjoy their performance here as a beleaguered gay couple terrorized by their unhinged children who like to shoot and punch each other

  (7/10 from 1930, trying to actually finish this list, we are so close)

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  Review by trolleyfreak ★★★ 2

  ‘You can lead a horse to water but a pencil must be lead..’ (Stan Laurel)
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  The dreaded pandemic virus has struck me down for the second time so I needed something short and sweet to cheer me up tonight.  As usual, these wonderful boys provided the chucklesome entertainment I required..
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  Online Access: ok.ru/video/2339998599920

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  Review by AuteurTheory ★★★★★

  Laurel and Hardy play their own sons, and it’s amazing.

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  Review by Matt

  Laurel & Hardy have some fun with clever production design. Probably blew people's minds back in the day, and to be honest it still doesn't look bad, mainly because it's done pretty well. As far as story goes, there isn't much of one here. Brats basically centers around what antics the duo can pull off playing children who annoy their fathers. But it's good for some chuckles!

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  Review by Pate Duncan ★★★½

  Research.

  Stellar stuff. Great use of an oversized set and the inherent appeal of Oliver Hardy as an oversized toddler.

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  Review by Professor Fate ★★★½

  The "uncanny" is a term first coined by Sigmund Freud to describe familiarity in a specific situation, but is presented in a way that generates feelings of discomfort or anxiety towards the audience for which it is subjected to.

  Through exploring the concept of the uncanny, Freud suggested the idea of the "double" and is referred to as a degree of development in the early stages of life, yada yada yada. Who cares. However, in films, the biggest portrayal of the double is through the idea of the doppelganger that is often used to expose the threshold between self and perception of the other, i.e the threatening split between individual and subjective reality. Think the relationship between Marion and Norman…

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  Review by matnol9 ★★★½

  The boy’s are stuck home babysitting their children (mini versions of L&H) while both of their wives are at their knitting club...Oops wrong night...I’d meant they’re out target practicing. Neat oversized props on the set give off an impressive illusion...I see how mini Hardy inherited his accident-prone traits, with a particular talent for head injuries.

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  Review by Jay D 's Watching ★★½

  I bet this is where David Lynch got the idea for that one terrifying scene in MULHOLLAND DRIVE (yes, THAT one)