The Best Man (1928)

The Best Man (1928)

*** (out of 4)

Funny two-reeler has a groom (Vernon Dent) and bride (Alma Bennett) waiting at the church to be married but the best man (Billy Bevan) is late getting there. Once he does everyone wishes he had just stayed away as he causes one problem after another and this runs into the reception and the following morning. THE BEST MAN is one of the better Mack Sennett produced shorts I've seen from this era thanks in large part to a pretty wild script and a great cast. The formula is pretty simple as you know Bevan is simply going to show up and ruin everything he touches but I thought there was quite a bit of imagination on display here and especially at the wedding. There were all sorts of accidents that happened but one of the best deals with a missing ring and the bottom of a woman's shoe. Even funnier is that night when Bevan puts his friend to bed, seemingly forgetting that he's now married. Both Bevan and Dent are extremely good in their roles and they really do come across like best friends. Andy Clyde has a small supporting role and Carol Lombard has a very small part if you can catch her. At twenty-minutes the film really goes by pretty quickly because there's just so much going on and at such a fast pace.