Considering that he was 32 years old when he starred as a red-cheeked college freshman, Harold Lloyd does a magnificent job endearing us towards his character, Harold "Speedy" Lamb. But then again, didn't he always? Of the three godfathers of silent comedy, only Charlie Chaplin did a better job in winning love and sympathy for the plight of his protagonists (Buster Keaton's deadpan seriousness rarely did the same). In The Freshman, Lloyd plays the eternal fall guy, first humiliating himself at the class inauguration, then at a dance, and then on the football field. But unlike Charlie Chaplin's Tramp, who cheated, connived, and stumbled his way to victory, Lloyd finished on top through sheer commitment. His indomitable "can-do" attitude endeared him to like-minded audiences in the 1920s and remains a powerful motivator to modern admirers. Even today, his jokes, pratfalls, and physical hijinks retain their comedic punch, even if they weren't as frequently on display as his contemporaries. But that's all right. He spent the extra time winning our support and our love.
7/10
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