Review by planktonrules

In the 1910s, Harold Lloyd was prolific in short comedies though his work in these was far less enjoyable than his 1920s films. This is because although he'd finally developed the physical attributes of his 1920s persona, the glasses and straw hat, he didn't act like the sweet guy the public really embraced in the 1920s. And, in most of these earlier films, Lloyd starred along with Harry 'Snub' Pollard and Bebe Daniels.

When "The Big Idea" begins, you can see that it's not typical of the later films, as Lloyd is a bit of a jerk...bullying poor Snub because both are interested in Bebe. He spends a lot of time kicking and slapping poor Snub. In the meantime, the shop where Harold and Bebe work is having financial problems and Harold comes up with a rather dishonest scheme to get people into this antique shop and to buy everything in sight.

If you aren't expecting the nice and sweet guy Lloyd later played, you'll likely enjoy this picture. It is pretty funny once Lloyd's scheme takes hold...and the store is pretty much empty in no time! Clever...though the film would be better if Lloyd wasn't so slap-happy.