The Cook

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Nick M Another laugh-out-loud riot from Arbuckle and Keaton! I straight-up howled several times while watching this. Small portions of the film are lost, but the infrequent, abrupt cuts did nothing to dampen my enjoyment. It is always impressive to watch Roscoe work in a kitchen because of his knife and food juggling skills, but there was a trick with a cleaver coming down on Keaton's neck that I cannot for the life of me figure out how they accomplished! There is a clear cut in the film, but only after the knife comes down. If the first part was done in reverse motion it would have to have been done with such precise planning and execution that it defies belief. Keaton is really coming into his own and is an absolute delight to watch, as is the adorable Luke the Dog! There is also an absolutely hysterical bit where both actors mimic the Egyptian-style dancing of the evening's entertainment where Arbuckle ends up reenacting the legendary scene of Cleopatra allowing an asp to bite her. This would have been topical as Theda Bara's Cleopatra had been the biggest film of the previous year (though it has sadly been lost). The Cook is nothing short of a treasure. Rated 4.5/5 Stars •  Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 08/25/24 Full Review william d Arbuckle is funny, but Keaton steals the show. Rated 4.5/5 Stars •  Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 03/31/23 Full Review sean l The epitome of Arbuckle and Keaton's flash-over-substance tendencies. Every last storytelling beat exists solely to maneuver the comic duo into a new backdrop for adlibs and pratfalls. Silent comedy two-reelers will never be known for their rich themes and steep character arcs, but The Cook seems egregious even by those low standards. Which isn't to say it's without merit. Actually, I really enjoyed myself. The bulk of the film finds our heroes working a high-end restaurant - Arbuckle in the kitchen, Keaton waiting tables - and, despite revisiting a few bits from their first partnership in 1917's The Butcher Boy, remains largely original, averaging a laugh every quarter-minute. It's stuffed with comic gold, from the little throwaway gags (Fatty tossing finished meals over his shoulder, Buster smoothly snatching them from the air) to the more elaborate productions (an explosive, dish-smashing dance number before a raucous dining room). Arbuckle's famous pet bull terrier, distinguished enough to merit his own lengthy Wikipedia entry, even enjoys a few wonderful guest spots as the mayhem spills out to the streets and beyond. The Cook is great fun - pure, unchained visceral comedy - if you can shut your mind to the dumb plot and just enjoy the sheer physical spectacle of it all. Rated 3.5/5 Stars •  Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 03/30/23 Full Review Audience Member Changed from 1 and a half star. I was entertained. I didn't really laugh though. Some of the other reviews of Keaton movies may sound like I don't think he's funny, and I don't really think he's funny. He was highly entertaining though. Arbuckle is funny in the kitchen, not so much at the table. Rated 3.5/5 Stars •  Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 02/26/23 Full Review Audience Member The tricks of how to eat spaghetti were funny . Rated 2/5 Stars •  Rated 2 out of 5 stars 01/24/23 Full Review Audience Member One of the most enjoyable silent comedy shorts I've seen. The Cook is glorious slapstick done masterfully. Fatty Arbuckle and Buster Keaton are hilariously awesome, their multitude of talents are showcased amazingly here. It's not the most invigorating story, because The Cook is mostly just a mindless 18 minutes of laughter and good times, and that's just fine with us. Rated 4.5/5 Stars •  Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 01/28/23 Full Review Read all reviews

The Cook

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