Too many fans seem to be blown away

A lot of fun.

It is neither dumb nor smart enough to be fun, and spends way too much time with its boring human characters.

It is a whirlwind of delight --- attractive actors, stunning couture, spectacular sets and outrageous parties.

Laurel and Hardy got to do one of their best shorts for Hal Roach in 1931 with One Good Turn. They play a couple of down on their luck characters who during the Great Depression would have had an instant identity with the movie-going public.One fine day as it happens Stan and Ollie come to the house of a little old lady who kindly gives them some food in exchange for some work they proceed to do in their inimitable fashion. In the meantime she's part of the little theater players group in her community and later when the boys return they hear the old lady Mary Carr rehearsing a scene with perennial Stan and Ollie nemesis James Finlayson. It's one of those turgid 19th century melodramas where the cruel, heartless, villainous landlords is about to evict the dear old thing and she's lost the money she's stashed away for her rent.Later on when Stan turns up with $100.00 Ollie drags him back and they find out the truth. At that point the worm known as Stan Laurel reacts and starts to give Ollie back what he's dealt with in this short and dozens more. It's what makes One Good Turn so unusual and refreshing.Note the scene which has them chopping wood and later on when they demolish their Model T. If that thing had been preserved today it would be priceless.A must for Stan and Ollie's legions of fans.

One Good Turn (1931) ** 1/2 (out of 4)L&H set out to raise $100 when they overhear an elderly woman say she's going to be evicted. Not too many laughs in this one outside the opening sequence in the woods. Leave 'Em Laughing (1928) ** 1/2 (out of 4) Laurel is suffering from a toothache so Hardy takes him to the dentist who accidentally fills them with laughing gas. The early gags of Hardy trying to pull the tooth are funny but the ending with the cars goes on a bit too long and gets rather tiresome.They Go Boom! (1929) *** (out of 4) Hardy has a cold so it's up to Laurel to try and find a cure so that they can get a good night's sleep. Highlights include the mustard bath and the exploding mattress.Thicker Than Water (1935) ** 1/2 (out of 4)Laurel and Hardy waste $300 on a grandfather clock so Hardy's wife hits him with a frying pan and sends him to the hospital. Again, not too funny and the worst part is the ending where the two change personalities. This here should have been a lot funnier than it turned out.

For the first 90% of this Laurel and Hardy short, there wasn't a whole lot to distinguish it from any other. In fact, the plot seemed a bit "schmaltzy" (i.e., sappy), as Stan and Ollie try to help out an old lady who they mistakenly think is about to be evicted by an evil landlord. Instead of the usual Laurel and Hardy hi-jinx, the film tends to be a nicer and gentler side to the boys--thus, to me, it's a tad dull! That is, dull until the very end of the film! At this point, in a HUGE contrast to the usual relationship between Stan and Ollie, Stan has had enough and proceeds to chase Ollie about trying to beat the stuffing out of him!! And, in the process, they destroy much of the nice old lady's home! The scene is a lot of fun to watch and quite spectacular, so the film is definitely worth seeing. Just don't expect it to be among their better films--at least until the end.

"One Good Turn" is a Laurel & Hardy short with some good moments. Stan and Ollie are reduced to begging, and arrive at the home of a friendly old woman who offers them a meal. While in her house, the boys misunderstand some events in the woman's life, and their well-meant but misguided attempts to help her out create more problems than they solve. The build-up to the gags in this one takes a bit longer than usual, but there are some good laughs to make up for it. One of the funniest parts is near the beginning when Stanley tries to extinguish an out-of-control campfire.