Girl Shy (1924)

Very disappointing...

If the ambition is to provide two hours of instantly forgettable, popcorn-munching escapism, it succeeds.

The thing I enjoyed most about the film is the fact that it doesn't shy away from being a super-sized-cliche;

All of these films share one commonality, that being a kind of emotional center that humanizes a cast of monsters.

Almost 100 years since it was made (93 more exactly), and this film is still full of freshness. There are many comic situations to be seen in it. Also very poetic, it's Harold Lloyd! Full of spectacular and very dangerous scenes. The actors are simply charming, the film moves in great shape. Perhaps the author of the script for "The Graduate", with Dustin Hoffman and Anne Bancroft, was inspired by this film, the story is somehow similar.

Harold Meadows was an exceptionally well written and well portrayed character, awkward yet determined and fully relatable, with a positive aspect of his personality to mirror each flaw. "Girl Shy" was romantic and hilarious without being a cliché "rom-com," and the plot left plenty of room for surprise and unexpectancy. I did feel there were a few very minor side characters that were not as explained as they should have been that left me confused as to who they were and why they were there. Aside from a minor plot hole that left me questioning as the end of the movie, I enjoyed everything else about the film. The acting was phenomenal, the scene settings were detailed and each one was unique, as if you were following the true ride all the way down to the city, and the chase scene was hilarious and original. "Girl Shy" a unique and adorable movie, and I would absolutely watch this title again given the chance.

Kindhearted but nervous around women, a tailor shop apprentice goes to extraordinary lengths to secure the affections of a young lady he helped on a train in this Harold Lloyd silent comedy. Often regarded as one of Lloyd's best films, 'Girl Shy' benefits from frequently letting its star emote in close-up with Lloyd delivering one of his most down-to-earth and touching performances. The film is also capped off by a magnificently choreographed elongated chase sequence, the ingenuity of which puts 'The Graduate' to shame as Lloyd similarly tries to stop a wedding. 'Girl Shy' is an uneven ride though, even with these pluses. A prominent subplot has Lloyd (ironically) writing a manual on how to talk to women and trying to get it published, and while there is a lot of humour to be had in this subplot, it feels like part of a completely different movie, not gelling well with his romance with the train passenger. The gags are also a little hit-and-miss. That said, the ones that work are exquisite. Highlights include Lloyd eating mousetrap cheese to cover up for accidentally sticking his hand in one, Lloyd hiding the woman's dog on the train (and pretending to yelp like the dog) and Lloyd floating away on a turtle without realising it at a later point. The aforementioned concluding chase sequence is very impressive too and provides a charming note for the film to end on.

Many black and white silent movies have gone by the way side. As far as appreciation goes in this day and age they deserve a whole lot more than we give them credit for. Mostly because these movies require a lot more effort into consideration of the plot and witty humor. They are so simple at their core though... like this movie for example is so beautifully done because its so innocent. No pretentious special effects or made up stars just a pure scene unedited and raw, giving it a lot of organic texture and feel. The scene where Harold Meadows is writing his book and begins his flashback with the "vampire" woman is absolutely adorable, such delicate lighthearted humor is a breath of fresh air in an entertainment industry beginning to rely on shock value, ratings and financial success. Harold Lloyd is an underrated silent film actor for sure, silent movies would not be complete without the star to make them even more endearing than before and Lloyd certainly articulates his charming warmth and melodramatic expressions to an audience young and old in a way that we can all understand how the character is feeling.