This short in Hal Roach's series of two-reelers teaming the vivacious Thelma Todd with the vague and willowy ZaSu Pitts is one of the best-remembered, because due to a cameo at the end, which is quite a funny and surprising (if, unlike me when I watched it, you are not already aware of it) way to end the short with a nod at the running gag that is its premise: that Thelma and ZaSu are sick to death of dates who think they are being original by taking them over and over again to Coney Island. A lot of the best little moments are Thelma Todd's exasperated looks at the camera after once again pretending to be enjoying herself.
On its own it is a very fun short indeed. It's more breezy, cheerful, and very enjoyable to watch than it is laugh-out-loud funny most of the time, and it almost feels at certain points as if the filmmakers all took a trip to Coney Island, had a ball, and made a comedy in the process. Billy Gilbert has one of his funnier character roles here as a fey fashion designer who can't seem to find the words to describe anything he designs, and has a penchant for nearly groping his customers. There's also a nice running gag in which ZaSu's date continually ends up with another woman accidentally in his arms.
An added bonus is the plentiful footage of Coney Island in 1931, which is genuinely fascinating as a curiosity. This is thoroughly fun and breezes past -- a great example of how Hal Roach's studios seemed to make putting out joyful little films seem almost effortless in this era.
On its own it is a very fun short indeed. It's more breezy, cheerful, and very enjoyable to watch than it is laugh-out-loud funny most of the time, and it almost feels at certain points as if the filmmakers all took a trip to Coney Island, had a ball, and made a comedy in the process. Billy Gilbert has one of his funnier character roles here as a fey fashion designer who can't seem to find the words to describe anything he designs, and has a penchant for nearly groping his customers. There's also a nice running gag in which ZaSu's date continually ends up with another woman accidentally in his arms.
An added bonus is the plentiful footage of Coney Island in 1931, which is genuinely fascinating as a curiosity. This is thoroughly fun and breezes past -- a great example of how Hal Roach's studios seemed to make putting out joyful little films seem almost effortless in this era.