This looks like a typical flirting-in-the-park one-reeler from Keystone in this era, but this early Arbuckle-directed film shows a bit more care in plot construction than was usually taken: we are given a sense of connection and sympathy of Roscoe and Mabel, next-door neighbors, hard workers who are put upon by their spouses. Mabel's is lazy, Roscoe's gets to abuse him physically.
The gag construction is a bit thin. We are still in the world of Keystone in which speed and damage are all that are required to make it work. However, the prints are good and we get to see a little real acting by the leads. I doubt this will win any converts to Roscoe's fan club, but it isn't very long and is well done for the sub-genre.
The gag construction is a bit thin. We are still in the world of Keystone in which speed and damage are all that are required to make it work. However, the prints are good and we get to see a little real acting by the leads. I doubt this will win any converts to Roscoe's fan club, but it isn't very long and is well done for the sub-genre.