Most everyone knows that The Three Stooges were a classic comedy trio that began back in the 1920’s. They were famous for their outrageous slapstick and were very popular both on TV and in movies. Now, more than 60 years after the original Moe, Larry and Curly ended their run as the Stooges, they’re being revived.
I’ve never been a huge fan of slapstick, so I was a little worried going into “The Three Stooges”. But I’ve got to say that I’m surprised by how funny the physical bits work in this film and fans of the original Stooges will be pleased with the effort put in by the filmmakers and cast to honor these comedy legends.
When this movie was original announced Moe, Larry and Curly were going to be played by Benicio del Toro, Sean Penn and Jim Carrey. What a different movie that would’ve been. In the end “Will & Grace”‘s Sean Hayes stars as Larry (the curly-haired Stooge – for the uneducated), Will Sasso plays Curly (the bald Stooge), and Chris Diamantopoulos is Moe (the leader of the Stooges, who tries to hold everything together).
At the beginning of the film, we see the Stooges as babies, being dropped-off at the front of an orphanage (already with their famous haircuts). We then flash-forward 10 years and no one working at the orphanage can stand them anymore (including Mother Superior, played by “Glee”‘s Jane Lynch) and no one wants to adopt them. Then we jump ahead another 25 years: Mother Superior hasn’t aged a bit, but the Stooges have and they’re still causing trouble at the orphanage.
So much so that the orphanage is being forced to close because it can’t afford to pay all the bills that are piling-up from repairing things destroyed by the Stooges. So Moe, Larry and Curly decide to go out on their own and try to raise the $830,000 needed to keep it open. Along the way they get caught-up in a scheme involving Lydia (Sofia Vergara), Moe becomes a reality star on “Jersey Shore”, and a lot of other funny and crazy things take place.
The film is divided into three acts, each beginning with updated version of the classic intros from the TV shorts. Some of the slapstick, especially early on, is laugh-out-loud funny. But, for me a least, it did get a little old after a while. But the second half does have some funny one-liners to keep the laughs coming.
But, sadly, “The Three Stooges” is not all Nyucks. The subplot involving Lydia is a waste. I would have liked to have seen more of the Stooges trying to come-up with ways of getting the money. There’s a scene where they try to become farmers that is hysterical.
Besides Vergara and Lynch, the supporting cast also includes Jennifer Hudson as a nun (who’s only in the film to belt out a couple of songs). An almost unrecognizable Larry David (“Curb Your Enthusiasm”) also
plays a nun, and he’s a main target for hi-jinks throughout the film.
And even though you know that a guy is playing a nun, it still works. Isiah Mustafa (the “Old Spice Guy”) plays the “Jersey Shore” producer.
And yes, the entire cast of that MTV show is in the movie. Once Moe becomes a cast member, he, Larry and Curly get to do what just about everyone has been dying to do to these people since they first appeared on TV. However, this subplot is a little “out there” and goes on a bit too long.
Diehard fans will be happy with the actors’ interpretations of the Stooges. All three handle the very tricky dialogue and pull-off the slapstick in style. There are plenty of moments where you know what’s coming, but more often than not you laugh anyway. The characters are gullible and likeable, and Hayes, Sasso and Diamantopolous capture that and mesh very well on screen.
“The Three Stooges” is directed by The Farrelly Brothers. They’re better known for their more adult comedies, such as “There’s Something About Mary”, “Dumb and Dumber” and “Hall Pass”. “The Three Stooges” is actually their first PG-rated film in 10 years. Obviously there’s a lot of silly, slapstick violence, along with some rude humor and a few gross moments. The film is appropriate for kids 9 and up, as long as their parents make it clear, as parents have had to do with their kids since this trio first appeared on screen, that they should not try to imitate anything they see The Stooges do. And just in case, you get a reminder of that at the end of the film (complete with an inside joke).
On The Official LCJ Report Card, “The Three Stooges” gets a C+.
If this film is a box office success we could see some of the original Stooges’ movies and shows return to TV and the inevitible sequel, where we could meet the other three Three Stooges.