This is a full-length Fatty Arbuckle film that was only released abroad because its completion coincided with the highly sensationalized rape trial of Fatty. And, while it's obvious that this is a high quality film made by a major studio instead of the perennially poor Keystone where he had done his earlier work, it's just not that great a film. It's got some very cute moments, but the film has two things working against it. First, the whole "stuttering" thing just isn't funny and it works even more poorly in a silent film. Fatty's character stutters from time to time and this in no may helps the plot and just seems like a cruel thing to joke about in films. Second, and more importantly, the problems that develop might be funny but could so easily have been worked out that it really strains credibility and seems very contrived. You see, Fatty wants to marry a lady and every time he talks to other lady friends about this, they think he's proposing. All he really had to do was TELL THEM the mistake and end the confusion then and there! But, he doesn't and chaos ensues. Plus, the very cute ending where he gets husbands for all three in VERY short order is funny but so unbelievable and once again contrived that it just doesn't work. A watchable but flawed comedy.
Review of Leap Year
