Let's Do Things (1931)
** (out of 4)
The first in the Zasu Pitts/Thelma Todd short runs just under thirty-minutes, which would be the only film in the series to try and expand to a three-reeler. The story is quite simple as Zasu's boyfriend asks that she set Thelma up on a blind date. The blind date turns out to be with an annoying orthopedic physician. The four go out to dinner where the doc becomes more annoying and soon enough Zasu has had a tad bit too much to drink. Even if you didn't know going in that this was the first film in the series you'd probably guess that after viewing because there's really not too many good things going on and it's clear the Hal Roach group were just using this to introduce their new female stars who they were hoping would become the next Laurel and Hardy. The film opens up with stock footage from the Clara Bow movie IT and then we get the highlight of the film as Todd gets to sing a quick song before the setting changes to their apartment where the girls get ready for the dates. There are the exactly comedy bits of Todd getting thrown around and Zasu acting fooling but none of it ever reaches a funny state. The final bit seems out of a different movie and doesn't mix well with everything that preceded it but I guess you needed the end the film with chaos. Zasu isn't too bad in her role but she would certainly get better as the series went on. Todd, on the other hand, displayed some stuff that you wouldn't see in future films and I am curious why the studio seemed to cut back on her screen time in the next few entries. Either way, LET'S DO THINGS isn't a good movie or a funny one so only fans of the duo will want to check it out.
** (out of 4)
The first in the Zasu Pitts/Thelma Todd short runs just under thirty-minutes, which would be the only film in the series to try and expand to a three-reeler. The story is quite simple as Zasu's boyfriend asks that she set Thelma up on a blind date. The blind date turns out to be with an annoying orthopedic physician. The four go out to dinner where the doc becomes more annoying and soon enough Zasu has had a tad bit too much to drink. Even if you didn't know going in that this was the first film in the series you'd probably guess that after viewing because there's really not too many good things going on and it's clear the Hal Roach group were just using this to introduce their new female stars who they were hoping would become the next Laurel and Hardy. The film opens up with stock footage from the Clara Bow movie IT and then we get the highlight of the film as Todd gets to sing a quick song before the setting changes to their apartment where the girls get ready for the dates. There are the exactly comedy bits of Todd getting thrown around and Zasu acting fooling but none of it ever reaches a funny state. The final bit seems out of a different movie and doesn't mix well with everything that preceded it but I guess you needed the end the film with chaos. Zasu isn't too bad in her role but she would certainly get better as the series went on. Todd, on the other hand, displayed some stuff that you wouldn't see in future films and I am curious why the studio seemed to cut back on her screen time in the next few entries. Either way, LET'S DO THINGS isn't a good movie or a funny one so only fans of the duo will want to check it out.