Don't Weaken!

Don't Weaken (1920)

** (out of 4)

Mack Sennett two-reeler has a father (Charles Murray) getting into the boxing ring with a professional dancer (Ford Sterling) who claims to be a master boxer as well. The dancer is the type always talking about great they are so daddy wants to put an end to that. DON'T WEAKEN might appeal to die-hard Sennett fans but I found it to be extremely slow during the first half and even when the fighting scenes do take place, none of them are memorable enough to recommend this to people. The first half of the film has a lot on nonsense about various social attitudes but none of it is funny. You'd think that having so many great cast members hoping into the ring would bring more laughs but even these here fall short in the comedy department. Both Murray and Sterling are extremely good in their roles but one wishes they were given more to do. James Finlayson is actually the best thing going here as he plays the dancer's assistant.