Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy were comedic geniuses, individually and together, and their partnership was deservedly iconic and one of the best there was. They left behind a large body of work, a vast majority of it being entertaining to classic comedy, at their best they were hilarious and their best efforts were great examples of how to do comedy without being juvenile or distasteful.
A vast majority of their output at this point was solid to classic (as said several times in previous reviews the only one really to not do much for me was '45 Minutes from Hollywood' which was right at the beginning pretty much), much of their early stuff was very interesting and fun to watch but it was around 1928 or so when the boys as a duo had found their mojo and had fully settled. While it is still worthwhile and a fun enough watch, 'Bonnie Scotland' to me was on the uneven side and a bit disappointing. Do consider it one of the weaker feature-length outings and that is not meant in a bad way necessarily.
'Bonnie Scotland's' story is pretty thin while also trying to do too much that it becomes messy and silly. It did feel like a short film at times stretched to feature length with some elements and scenes coming off better and being more necessary than others. The romantic subplot did nothing for me, it added very little, came over as bland, predictable and forced, it is a worry when it is a subplot that feels like extraneous padding yet features too much.
Excepting a very amusing James Finlayson, who should have had more to do, the supporting cast don't have an awful lot of spark, especially when compared to the usual for a Laurel and Hardy outing, and for a Laurel and Hardy film 'Bonnie Scotland' is not one of their most visually appealing with the cheap and unauthentic scenery.
However, Laurel and Hardy are absolutely spot on, their performances individually cannot be faulted and neither can their ever impeccable and deservedly iconic chemistry. Finlayson as said registers well in support. Laurel and Hardy's scenes are an absolute delight, with some great sly verbal wit and beautifully timed and not goofy slapstick, and it's with them where 'Bonnie Scotland' comes alive.
The standout scenes for me were with the hotel room, talking about the mirage and the ending, all hilarious. It is more than competently directed and the photography is nicely done despite the scenery.
In summary, worthwhile but uneven. 6/10 Bethany Cox
A vast majority of their output at this point was solid to classic (as said several times in previous reviews the only one really to not do much for me was '45 Minutes from Hollywood' which was right at the beginning pretty much), much of their early stuff was very interesting and fun to watch but it was around 1928 or so when the boys as a duo had found their mojo and had fully settled. While it is still worthwhile and a fun enough watch, 'Bonnie Scotland' to me was on the uneven side and a bit disappointing. Do consider it one of the weaker feature-length outings and that is not meant in a bad way necessarily.
'Bonnie Scotland's' story is pretty thin while also trying to do too much that it becomes messy and silly. It did feel like a short film at times stretched to feature length with some elements and scenes coming off better and being more necessary than others. The romantic subplot did nothing for me, it added very little, came over as bland, predictable and forced, it is a worry when it is a subplot that feels like extraneous padding yet features too much.
Excepting a very amusing James Finlayson, who should have had more to do, the supporting cast don't have an awful lot of spark, especially when compared to the usual for a Laurel and Hardy outing, and for a Laurel and Hardy film 'Bonnie Scotland' is not one of their most visually appealing with the cheap and unauthentic scenery.
However, Laurel and Hardy are absolutely spot on, their performances individually cannot be faulted and neither can their ever impeccable and deservedly iconic chemistry. Finlayson as said registers well in support. Laurel and Hardy's scenes are an absolute delight, with some great sly verbal wit and beautifully timed and not goofy slapstick, and it's with them where 'Bonnie Scotland' comes alive.
The standout scenes for me were with the hotel room, talking about the mirage and the ending, all hilarious. It is more than competently directed and the photography is nicely done despite the scenery.
In summary, worthwhile but uneven. 6/10 Bethany Cox