The main reason why 'His Regeneration' was seen in the first place was for Charlie Chaplin. Am a fan of his and consider him an important influence in film responsible for some masterpieces like 'City Lights', 'The Gold Rush' and 'Modern Times'. There were misfires in his career, namely the worst Keystone shorts but other talents have had far bigger misfires.
Although still fairly early on in his career and this being made during the Essanay period of his career where he properly started to grow, he is always worth watching and even his early films have interest value. Actually found his Essanay period to show a vast step up in quality than his variable Keystone efforts overall, all up to this point worth watching and a few very good even.
Chaplin is certainly the best thing about 'His Regeneration' as well as its notable interest point. He shows the most personality and is amusing and expressive.
The film also looks pretty reasonable while not amazing, and there are a few amusing and charming moments.
Having said that, Chaplin's appearance is short, for a talent of his calibre too short, it's only a few minutes at most and that didn't do him justice, and not some of his best material. Actually felt that it belonged somewhere else, it stuck out like a sore thumb quality-wise and holds little relevance. That's even when it's the most interesting and funniest 'His Regeneration' gets.
Elsewhere it is pretty dull with not much interesting going on in the over-stretched and thin story, lacks charm and is too predictable and clumsy to get any freshness or proper fun from it. The rest of the cast don't have anywhere near as much charisma or personality and struggle to keep the lacking material afloat.
All in all, lacklustre. 4/10 Bethany Cox