Wished on Mabel

This is a pretty good short comedy that gets the most of some simple material, and which also features Mabel Normand and 'Fatty' Arbuckle together. While the story is nothing much, it is mildly creative, and this is a good example of the way that the better of the silent era film-makers were able to get just enough out of a simple idea instead of pushing it too far, as is so often the case with present-day "comedies".

Here, the whole story revolves around a watch as it changes hands during the course of the action. It's silly yet enjoyable, with a decent pace. Mabel's charm helps considerably, and she also does a pretty good job directing. Arbuckle's energy also helps, although he has a surprisingly unsympathetic character who rather enjoys playing tricks at the expense of others. Arbuckle's light-hearted approach makes the character seem more positive than he deserved to be.

Overall, while hardly anything special, "Wished on Mabel" is entertaining enough, and it is a bit better than the average comedy of its time.