The more and more of their films I watch, the more and more I become convinced that even Laurel and Hardy's "good" sound films weren't all that good. Of all of their feature-length sound films that I have seen, so far James W. Horne's Way Out West has been the best and funniest. But it still suffers from the problems that plague their other sound efforts: gags that go on for far too long in withering silence, an over-reliance on double-takes, and Laurel's piercing scream whenever threatened or attacked. But Way Out West does have its undeniable charms. The occasional flourishes of "white magic" are delightful: Laurel using his thumb as a lighter, Hardy's head becoming stretchable when trapped in a floor, and an old but effective gag where Laurel's singing voice changes pitch when bashed on the head. Also, the dance number where Laurel and Hardy swing and sway along with The Avalon Boys is one of my favorite moments of their entire careers.
6/10
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