Am a big fan of Charlie Chaplin, have been for over a decade now. Many films and shorts of his are very good to masterpiece, and like many others consider him a comedy genius and one of film's most important and influential directors.
1918's 'Chase Me Charlie' is made up of several short films from Chaplin's Essanay period. It shows a noticeable step up in quality though from his Keystone period, where he was still evolving and in the infancy of his long career, from 1914, The Essanay period is something of Chaplin's adolescence period where his style had been found and starting to settle. Something that can be seen here in this uneven but worthwhile compilation where some short films are better than others and it all feels a bit episodic.
Some of the short films are not one of his all-time funniest or most memorable, other efforts also have more pathos and a balance of that and the comedy. The stories can be a little flimsy, a few struggle to sustain the short length, and could have had more variety and less more of the same repeition.
On the other hand, 'Chase Me Charlie' looks pretty good, not incredible but it was obvious that Chaplin was taking more time with his work and not churning out countless shorts in the same year of very variable success like he did with Keystone. Appreciate the importance of his Keystone period and there is some good stuff he did there, but the more mature and careful quality seen here and later on is obvious.
Most of the short films featured may lack originality and they vary in effectiveness of humour, but all are generally still very entertaining with some clever, entertaining and well-timed slapstick. The top 3, all three being among Chaplin's best early efforts, are 'The Tramp', 'The Bank' and 'The Champion', while the weakest are still worthwhile. 'Chase Me Charlie' as an overall whole moves quickly and there is no dullness in sight.
Chaplin directs more than competently, if not quite cinematic genius standard yet. He also, as usual, gives an amusing and expressive performance and at clear ease with the physicality of the role. The supporting cast acquit themselves well in all the short films featured.
In summation, worth watching if not to watch over and over. 7/10 Bethany Cox
