I understand that they made short comic films up to the 1950s and for a while they appeared on TV quite a lot, none of which was seen in England.
At the kids' Saturday morning pictures we went to during the mid-late 50s (before we'd got our own TV), the big American names on screen were 'Abbot and Costello', and 'The Bowery Boys' (whatever happened to them?). No Laurel and Hardy even, who were by that time regarded as 'old hat' and out of fashion - their only being deservedly re-appreciated in the 1970s, largely due to the oncoming popularity of video. And there was certainly no 'Three Stooges'.
Anyway, back to this film. I did laugh more than I was expecting to - at least during the first half. But all that head-slapping, hair-pulling, nose-tweaking, eye-poking etc became, over time, repetitive and wearing. Ninety minutes really stretched it to breaking point - though there were still, admittedly, occasional chortles.
The film is pointlessly broken down into three half-hour episodes but as the plot, such as it is, is so thin they could just as well have been run together. I suppose breaking it up does give a semblance of it being more digestible even if wasn't quite so.
The only members of the cast I knew were Sean Hayes (from 'Will & Grace', of course), Jennifer Hudson and Larry David, the latter in particular quite amusing in an unexpected role.
I think it's the kind of film that would go down better sitting in front of the telly with a friend and with a few cans of beer on hand. I can imagine that with a bit of alcoholic assistance it could well be seen as much funnier, even hilarious.
My rating ought to recognise the fact that I did laugh a bit more than expected, and for that reason deserves to be marked a notch above average.
So I give it a .................5.5/10.
90 minutes? I could barely manage the 90 seconds of the trailer for it!
ReplyDeleteI might well have had your reaction, Andrew. Nor had I seen any excerpt of it on TV. But as it was as a one-off cheap (£2.50) Saturday morning showing at a cinema just down the road I thought that there wasn't much to lose. I'm pleased that I went.
Deletefor us true believers, no modern film can replicate the original 3 stooges! you would be better off renting the original shorts from netflix.
ReplyDeletewww.stoogeum.com - my spouse volunteers here 1 day a month; it houses a collection of all things stooge AND it's only 20 minutes from my house.
Thanks for that advice, A.M. I'll put it on the back burner (never having rented ANY film on computer- yet), though I am intrigued at the thought of what I've been missing.
DeleteI've visited the website, for which I thank you, and it's more of an 'industry' than I'd thought. I'm now wondering if you yourself are a member of that fan club - and which one of the trio was your favourite?
I get the impression that the act was/is a minority taste, but that minority is quite a significant one. I'd reckon that since you're so close to the location, a lot of the tourists you see in your area will be diehard fans of the act.
Quelle surprise to see a review of "The Three Stooges" I can take the original Stooges in small doses - make that a very small dose. I was briefly tempted to see it because of Sean Hayes whom I love since I saw him in "Promises, Promises." I decided not to, since it might have tarnished my respect for him. Wish Sean had chosen better after making such a great Broadway debut.
ReplyDeleteYes, I can appreciate that, Paul. It's the sort of 'humour' that doesn't lend itself to being extended for many minutes, and certainly not to an hour and a half. Maybe it was the novelty (to me) of the act that helped to carry me through it.
DeleteSean Hayes was okay. At one point he, along with the other two, are required to leer at a nearby shapely female form. Well, that's what 'acting' is all about, I suppose.
Your mention of 'Promises Promises' comes just as we get the news of the sad demise of Hal David who, it must be admitted, managed to get a good lengthy run at life. Although he was a very good lyricist his words didn't knock me back quite as much as the music of his collaborator with its harmonies, so daring yet managing to sound so effortless, were totally astonishing. I think it was Burt B's music that lifted the lyrics rather than the other way round. But we are indeed grateful for Hal D's contribution.
Whenever I need cheering up, I watch "Disorder in the Court"
ReplyDeleteit still makes me laugh out loud.
Noted, Dr Spo. If I ever get round to seeing one of their genuine originals this will be first on the list.
Deletego to youtube - it still cracks me up.!
DeleteI did think it was quite amusing, though without it creasing me. This is the very first of the trio's films I've ever seen. Maybe if I'd already been familiar with them I might have found it a lot funnier.
DeleteI wonder if I would find this one enjoyable. I grew up with The Three Stooges but was never a huge fan. My brother loved them and repeated all their painful moves on me, not understanding that they really did hurt. Way too violent for my tastes. (But sometimes funny.)
ReplyDeleteMitch, at the end of this film there is a short 'tacked on' appearance by the Farrelly brothers illustrating how the actors actually used rubber hammers etc, sound effects being added later, as well as their not really poking each others' eyes, but touching their foreheads. I suppose it needed to be said, especially when a large proportion of the audience for this film will be kids. I only wonder if putting this short piece in was an unplanned afterthought. Not that it matters.
DeleteEarly on in life I noticed that with Laurel and Hardy too nearly all the fun comes in seeing the HEAD hit by a missile or weapon, deliberately applied or by accident. And so it is in this film. Any other part of the body just wouldn't be as funny - maybe apart from toes being stamped on or feet being pummeled in some way. But the head, the most vulnerable part, is usually the primary target
Certainly it's all very violent - as is 'Tom and Jerry'. I myself am torn - and confess to feeling some guilt at laughing when I feel I really shouldn't be. But that's human nature - inconsistent!
I did not realize that The Three Stooges never made it across the Atlantic. They were an after-school staple when I was young. My mother disapproved because of the violence but what went on before she got home from work could be easily hidden. When I heard there was a movie I wsa afraid it might not sustain well. I recall the television version was a 30 min program divided into 2-3 short features. I can't imagine trying to sustain it for 90 min.
ReplyDelete