"Calling All Doctors" is a great example why Charley Chase's shorts with Columbia were enjoyable but clearly not up to the standards of his wonderful films with Hal Roach Studio. It takes a great idea and simply overdoes it. In other words, it's about as subtle as a stripper at a Baptist wedding! It tries way too hard to be wacky and in the process sinks the overall level of the short to that of a Three Stooges' short (also from Columbia, by the way). Subtle it ain't!
When the film begins, you see that Charley is a huge hypochondriac. It's a neat idea but the hypochondria angle is WAY overdone as NO ONE is that much of a worry-wart about illnesses. The point is just driven home way too hard and I found myself disliking this very quickly.
Later, Charley imagines he's so sick that he needs to go to the doctor. However, instead of meeting his usual doctor, he is met by a new guy. However, the new doctor is actually a lunatic who THINKS he's a doctor. Hilarity ensues until his family learns about the mix-up. At this point they decide to try to teach Charley a lesson.
As I first said, the film tries awfully hard. If it had tried to be a bit more subtle and wacky, it would have been more enjoyable and less, at times, stupid--though I did enjoy the very silly sneezing phone gag. And, despite its lack of finesse, it did make me laugh and that's what's important with a comedy.