Today’s quick review: Utopia. Stan (Stan Laurel) and Ollie (Oliver Hardy) get the chance to leave their troubles behind when they inherit an island in the South Sea. The two friends set out in a yacht with a stateless man (Max Elloy) and a stowaway (Adriano Rimoldi), braving stormy seas and a complete lack of nautical ability to reach their new home. But when a storm shipwrecks them on an uncharted atoll, the men must build a society of their own.
Utopia is a classic comedy starring Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy. The duo bring their signature style of comedy to a seafaring expedition. To the movie’s credit, the yacht and the atoll they end up on are ideal settings for slapstick. Laurel and Hardy go through their routines with a practiced ease, and their attempts to found a new country even let the movie indulge in some light social commentary.
However, Utopia suffers from a few problems that keep it from living up to its potential. Chief among these is the comedy itself. The movie relies on recycled jokes that will be familiar to even casual fans of Laurel and Hardy. The delivery feels rote, with slow timing and punchlines that linger just a bit too long. Meanwhile, the story meanders without a clear end in mind, closer to a series of accidents than a cohesive whole.
For all of these faults, Utopia will still hold some appeal for fans of slapstick comedy. The jokes don’t exactly hit the mark, but they come close, and there are a couple of gems to reward a patient viewer. If you have a taste for classic comedy and are looking for a light watch, Utopia is a fine choice. If you’re looking for a side-splitting comedy with Laurel and Hardy at their best, look elsewhere.
For a more spirited comedy aboard a ship, try Monkey Business. For a much more serious movie about a man trapped on a desert island, try Cast Away. For a touching biographical film about Laurel and Hardy, check out Stan & Ollie.
5.7 out of 10 on IMDB. I give it a 6.0 to 6.5 for a promising setup with lackluster execution.