Me and My Pal

Oliver Hardy is due to marry the daughter of Sir Cucumber, a rich oil baron, and hence become an oil magnate himself. His best man, Stan Laurel, brings over a gift before they leave for the wedding ceremony – a big jigsaw puzzle. However the puzzle proves to be fiendishly addictive and the pair are delayed by the attention it draws.

This Laurel & Hardy short starts with an overlong set up (albeit amusingly delivered over the radio) but soon gets down to the central gag – the fact that none of the protagonists can drag themselves away from the jigsaw long enough to do what they have to do. It is funny the first few times but it is less funny as it goes along. Only the idea of an increasing crowd of people gathered around the jigsaw makes it amusing.

The punchline of the whole short is really added at the last minute and I think they must have been stuck for a strong finish and so settled for this. Hardy is good with his usual looks of frustration towards the audience while Laurel is as confused as ever. They work together well. Finlayson is a disappointment as he doesn't do what he is best at (his slow burn double take) although it is interesting to hear him say `d'oh' as he was indeed the inspiration for one Homer Simpson's trademark. The rest of the support cast do little but I always find Finlayson to be excellent value in these shorts so felt a little let down.

Overall this is a simple short that is not the best the pair have done but is amusing none the less. However I must be honest and say that they have done better and funnier.