Am a big fan of Charlie Chaplin, have been for over a decade now. Many films and shorts of his are very good to masterpiece, and like many others consider him a comedy genius and one of film's most important and influential directors.
Everybody has to have at least one misfire in their careers, even the best directors and actors have not so good films or films they regret. From his early still evolving period before he properly found his stride and fairly fresh from his vaudeville background, 'His Favourite Pastime' shows that Chaplin is not immune from this. While an important milestone period for him, his Keystone years/films were watchable and interesting enough overall but patchy, none being among his best work.
'His Favourite Pastime' has a few good points. While a little primitive and not exactly audacious, the production values are far from cheap. Fatty Arbuckle does bring some zest to his role.
There are also a few amusing moments, the highlight being Chaplin's saloon toilet door fight which is actually very funny and in a different league to the rest of the material.
Where 'His Favourite Pastime' falls down is that mostly it's not particularly funny. The timing feels limp and there is very little, if any, freshness or originality apart from that aforementioned scene with the saloon toilet door. There is not much charm here and there is not much to be emotionally invested by. The story is flimsy, so much so things feel over-stretched, there are not many Chaplin short films where a short length feels very dull but 'His Favourite Pastime' is one of them.
Found myself uncharacteristically disappointed by Chaplin, which was not expected because generally even in lesser efforts he was one of the better things about them. Here he does not look interested and goes through the motions, there is none of the comedy/directing genius that he is deservedly hailed for. Arbuckle aside, the rest of the cast are not much to write home about.
In conclusion, an early career misfire. 4/10 Bethany Cox
Everybody has to have at least one misfire in their careers, even the best directors and actors have not so good films or films they regret. From his early still evolving period before he properly found his stride and fairly fresh from his vaudeville background, 'His Favourite Pastime' shows that Chaplin is not immune from this. While an important milestone period for him, his Keystone years/films were watchable and interesting enough overall but patchy, none being among his best work.
'His Favourite Pastime' has a few good points. While a little primitive and not exactly audacious, the production values are far from cheap. Fatty Arbuckle does bring some zest to his role.
There are also a few amusing moments, the highlight being Chaplin's saloon toilet door fight which is actually very funny and in a different league to the rest of the material.
Where 'His Favourite Pastime' falls down is that mostly it's not particularly funny. The timing feels limp and there is very little, if any, freshness or originality apart from that aforementioned scene with the saloon toilet door. There is not much charm here and there is not much to be emotionally invested by. The story is flimsy, so much so things feel over-stretched, there are not many Chaplin short films where a short length feels very dull but 'His Favourite Pastime' is one of them.
Found myself uncharacteristically disappointed by Chaplin, which was not expected because generally even in lesser efforts he was one of the better things about them. Here he does not look interested and goes through the motions, there is none of the comedy/directing genius that he is deservedly hailed for. Arbuckle aside, the rest of the cast are not much to write home about.
In conclusion, an early career misfire. 4/10 Bethany Cox