The Three Stooges (2012)

Featured Audience Ratings

• Tired of P

  
  Directed (and co-written) by The Farrelly Brothers, C3 Entertainment, 2012 Starring: Sean Hayes, Chris Diamantopoulos, Will Sasso, Jane Lynch, Sofia Vergara, Stephen Collins, Jennifer Hudson, and Larry David. Genre: Comedy Question: Do you think it's glamorous being a… More
  Directed (and co-written) by The Farrelly Brothers, C3 Entertainment, 2012 Starring: Sean Hayes, Chris Diamantopoulos, Will Sasso, Jane Lynch, Sofia Vergara, Stephen Collins, Jennifer Hudson, and Larry David. Genre: Comedy Question: Do you think it's glamorous being a movie reviewer? Seeing movies everyday, talking about movies, learning more about filmmakers, writing about certain actors, story-lines, discovering new talent etc...Well, it's the best job in the WORLD! I cannot lie. But I was asked to see movie to review it and it was one I hadn't planned on seeing.....The Three Stooges. Yep, you read that right. I saw The Three Stooges. This does happen once and in a while but not often enough to complain about - seeing a film that I wasn't interested in watching. In fact, I usually end up glad I was asked because I am forced out of my comfort zone and sometimes discover a decent film. However, I really didn't want to see this particular movie. I wasn't interested in it at all but I was on a radio show recently, interviewed by the boys of Rampant Radio's Answer Pants show and I agreed. I am too nice and just could not say no, (Unless it's a slasher film - can't handle those. Sorry people...so don't ask.) but I think reviewers and critics who have a specific distaste for a genre or such should avoid reviewing those movies. My thought, everyone has different tastes and likes. Mine may be broad, but I don't like everything, but my goal is to entice people to see a movie NOT go out of my way to pan a film. That is just not my style. With all that said, I will admit I went into the theatre not a happy camper but with an open mind. Of course I had seen the original The Three Stooges' skits and I just didn't find the slapstick humor all that funny or entertaining. However, when the original short films were made times were different, tastes were simpler and people weren't bombarded with 1000 TV channels, 15 movies opening on each weekend and the only place to see a film was in the local movie house. However, I do like the Farrelly Brothers and thought if any filmmakers were going to revive the old Vaudeville act they were the best choice. I also thought they were going to increase the farcical jokes with today's more R-rated humor that they are so known for. (Yes, I didn't know it was rated PG until I got to the theatre - sorry, didn't do my normal research on this one.) So what did I think of the film? Well, it was a pure homage to the original act. The movie was separated into three acts or episodes. The story was...well, umm...simple, silly and filled with a lot eye-poking, nose-pulling, and hammer-hitting. And, if I have to be honest, I was slightly bored because as I mentioned this type of humor just wasn't my cup of tea. However, if you like the slapstick humor of the original act then you may enjoy this film. Plus, I already told my kids this, I think children will enjoy this film so, yes, I have it on my Netflix queue for my kiddos. It was rated PG and it was made for the young at heart. The three actors who portrayed Larry, Moe and Curly embodied their characters well. It was actually a little spooky how well, but I think the Farrelly brothers did a great job at casting the threesome. I was also a little surprised to see who else was in this film (see list of actors) but then again I didn't see any previews or do any research on this. However, once I did see the movie and did some fact checking, I found out the origins of the original The Three Stooges and found that story to be really interesting. Now that is a film I think I would be interested in viewing...anyone thinking of doing a biopic? My favorite thing: The warning to the children during the credits. That got a giggle out of me. My least favorite thing: Oh, you know I can't bash a film and you know I didn't really care for this one so let's just leave it at that for this 'least favorite thing', okay? Rating: PG Length: 92 minutes Review: 4 out of 10

• Phil H

  
  So I'm British and I don't really have any or much knowledge on this all American legendary comedic trio but I know of them and how it works. From that small bit of recognition I can see the effort put into this film from the three main cast members and must give kudos to… More
  So I'm British and I don't really have any or much knowledge on this all American legendary comedic trio but I know of them and how it works. From that small bit of recognition I can see the effort put into this film from the three main cast members and must give kudos to their performances. Yes the film is completely stupid, childish and babyish but of course that's what its all about, a classic mix of Chaplin, Harold Lloyd and Buster Keaton with sound and no holding back with absurd ludicrous scenario's. I've never heard of the main cast but have read of many big names that were in line for the main roles such as Jim Carrey. Even I can see this would have been completely wrong so I'm glad the cast are as they are, unknowns (to me), they pull off the recreation very well I think, they look good and sound good. I think the stunts on show here are decent but nothing especially amazing, its all about the well rehearsed chemistry between the Stooges really, that's what shines through, the rest is your average Farrelly brothers schtick. Does exactly what it says on the tin folks, you know what to expect and you get exactly that. If you don't enjoy this kind of farcical comedy or find yourself hating it as you watch then you clearly didn't check the label on the tin. Not totally my thing I admit but I can appreciate the skill involved.

• Mark H

  
  Explaining why this made me laugh is like describing why Adagio for Strings makes me cry. It's more of a mood that the Farrelly brothers set up and maintain. For one thing they keep the atmosphere surprisingly wholesome. (It's rated PG, not PG-13 but PG) And why… More
  Explaining why this made me laugh is like describing why Adagio for Strings makes me cry. It's more of a mood that the Farrelly brothers set up and maintain. For one thing they keep the atmosphere surprisingly wholesome. (It's rated PG, not PG-13 but PG) And why shouldn't they? This is the Three Stooges after all. The trio that rose to fame in the 1930s, while admittedly idiotic, was never vulgar or offensive. They remain sweet, good natured guys so we can still support them even when they're acting like idiots. Despite all the physical harm, their genuine love for each other and their fellow man, is evident. There's an innocence that imbues every scene with heart. Yes there's the requisite head bonks, eyeball gouges and hammers to the head complete with the cartoon noises that highlight each to amusing effect. But there's also considerable humanity. I can't justify why this made me chuckle, but I say without shame, I laughed a lot!

• Alexander D

  
  At this point in time, the slapstick genre is nearly dead. We had TUCKER & DALE VS. EVIL last year, and that is The Three Stooges gone insanely violent, but that was the first feature film we've had in quite a while. THE THREE STOOGES resurrects the sub-genre quite well.… More
  At this point in time, the slapstick genre is nearly dead. We had TUCKER & DALE VS. EVIL last year, and that is The Three Stooges gone insanely violent, but that was the first feature film we've had in quite a while. THE THREE STOOGES resurrects the sub-genre quite well. Especially when comparing with most modern comedies, rarely is this film scatological (though there is one notably gross scene glorifying baby urine), and rarely is it actually as dumb as people are making it seem.Think of the what could be the Farrellys' best-known work, DUMB & DUMBER. It's similar to that, because the characters are dumb, but the film and script are overall quite clever. For example, there is a scene when all the Stooges meet up with the cast of Jersey Shore (finally that show gets a good mocking), on which Moe is being featured. One of the Stooges points to Snooki's hat, which reads "Guinness", and remarks, "Just because you're wearin' a hat that says 'Genius' doesn't mean you are one!" You could look at this as a comedic gem injured a bit by its flaws, or an error-fest uplifted by the massive laughs it offers. Me, I prefer to view it as the former. Contrary to what you would expect, it's not a film only Stooges fans would like. READ THE ENTIRE STO-RY: http://themoviefreakblog.wordpress.com/review-the-three-stooges

• Randy T

  
  Terrific performances by Sean Hayes (Larry), Will Sasso (Curly) and Chris Diamantopoulos (Moe) are muted by the sophomoric, asinine inclusion of Jersey Shore and Kardashian gags that frankly don't work on anyone over the age of seventeen.

• Markus R

  
  The line "better than I thought" pretty much sums up the Farrelly brother's new film "The Three Stooges". In a somewhat skilled exercise in juvenile/sophomoric antics, "The Three Stooges", directed and co-written by Bobby and Peter Farrelly… More
  The line "better than I thought" pretty much sums up the Farrelly brother's new film "The Three Stooges". In a somewhat skilled exercise in juvenile/sophomoric antics, "The Three Stooges", directed and co-written by Bobby and Peter Farrelly (There's Something About Mary) and starring Chris Diamantopoulos (Up All Night), Sean Hayes (Will & Grace) and Will Sasso (MADtv)as Mo, Larry and Curly respectively; and co-starring Jane Lynch (Glee), Sofia Vergara (Modern Family), Larry David (Curb Your Enthusiasm), Jennifer Hudson, Kate Upton and the cast of "Jersey Shore", has been supposedly a long time Farrelly brothers passion project. And they do a decent job of bringing these beloved yet simplistic characters to the big screen. If nothing else, audiences will be able to tell that the Farrelly's are huge fans and as such meticulously made every aspect of this adaptation true to the original 1930's and 1940's shorts. And at times (very few times) showing parallels to "Dumb and Dumber", the Farrelly brothers touch definitely elevated "The Three Stooges" from what would have been an unwatchable satire, to an (at times) very funny slapstick romp. For the first twenty minutes, "The Three Stooges" is working with some very old fashioned comedy, that is quite awkward to watch and may garner no laughs. It is only when the old fashioned slapstick trio clashes with their modern surrounding that this film finds its legs (as shaky as they may be). But still, for many novice audiences, things here may become tiresome to watch, in the way that watching three grown men act infantile for 90 minutes is. But for the crowd "The Three Stooges" is intended for, this film, which relies heavily on pratfalls, will have enough laughs to entertain for the entirety of the movie going experience. As far as the satirical treatment the Farrelly's have given their film, as I stated before, everything is spot on. From the absurdly cruel cartoon violence inflicted by Moe, to the bone crunching sound effects produced by Curly and Larry, to the old fashioned episodic introductions, to the hokey Stooges situations which involve a Governors Ball and a banquet hall, etc. Furthermore, every actor in this film pretty much holds their own; including Kate Upton and Sophia Vergara (as much as this will pain some women to hear). In saying that, Larry David is horribly miscast as Sister Mary-Mengele. Which proves, once and for all, that Larry David, whom I am a huge fan of, is incapable of playing anybody else but Larry David. With my mixed back assessment out of the way, I will say that for a film which I was almost dreading to see, I was somewhat pleasantly surprised. In fact, the three most surprising aspects of "The Three Stooges" where: 1. It was Farrelly funny. Meaning, more than half of the jokes were up to par with the brilliant comic writing the Farrelly's have been known for in the past. 2. Sophia Vergara steals the show! Vergara, who plays the one dimensional Latin character on "Modern Family" (and in real life) and has been God-awful in films such as "New Year's Eve" and "The Smurfs", absolutely shines here with grade A comic timing. 3. The actors who played Moe, Larry, and Curly where extremely well cast. In fact, from time to time, when a joke wouldn't hit or a saw to the forehead would come off as hokey, the near perfect impressions will keep lovers of The Stooges, in some state of nostalgia throughout. Side Note: There were rumors that the likes of Sean Penn, Benicio Del Toro and Jim Carrey were set to star in this film, presumably in the place of Hayes, Diamantopoulos and Sasso, but opted out. Why? Well, IMDB will give you a few reasons, which sound made up at best, because after seeing the finished product, in this reviewers opinion, the writing wasn't really worthy of A list stars. Cut and dry. Final Thought: Movies like "The Three Stooges" showcase what the Farrelly brothers do best. That is, take material or characters that are not necessarily worth a feature length film and provide enough pathos as to allow even the most hardened move-goer to find some entertainment value in the simple story arc. And even though many of the jokes here may seem dated, forgettable or just down-right not funny, for the millions of fans who are sure to buy tickets, "The Three Stooges" does deliver on a very April film release kind of way. Written by Markus Robinson, Edited by Nicole I. Ashland Please visit my page on Examiner.com http://www.examiner.com/x-52464-San-Jose-Indie-Movie-Examiner and leave any comments you have about this or any review. The more hits I get the better. Thank you. Follow me on Twitter @moviesmarkus

• KJ P

  
  The portrayals of the three stooges is what makes this film particularly work. It is like they studied the original television show to pay a homage, and by god did they do an amazing job; However, the silliness of the modern references and real-life situations kind of take away from… More
  The portrayals of the three stooges is what makes this film particularly work. It is like they studied the original television show to pay a homage, and by god did they do an amazing job; However, the silliness of the modern references and real-life situations kind of take away from the fact that these characters are only meant for comedy skits. I had a great time at the movies while watching "The Three Stooges," but looking back on it, it was a pretty simple film to write, taking the characters and placing them in with new-age technology. It may not be the wondrous cinematic experience that died hard stooges fans may have been hoping for, but it definitely does not come short on laughs. "The Three Stooges" is quite a bit of fun!

• Bathsheba M

  
  Growing up as a girl with three brothers, I never thought I would like the Stooges. But there I was, a grown woman, laughing my ass off at their stupid antics, which by the way were beautifully choreographed. I kept wondering how long they had to practice those insane moves and bird… More
  Growing up as a girl with three brothers, I never thought I would like the Stooges. But there I was, a grown woman, laughing my ass off at their stupid antics, which by the way were beautifully choreographed. I kept wondering how long they had to practice those insane moves and bird sounds to make them flawless. I think the movie brought out the humanity of the trio that I didn't remember in the orginals, but as I say, I was fighting the tyranny of a brother-dominated house. I like the update of the reality show plot device, very clever. And forgive me for loving the sinking car scene--the rat down the cleavage of the evil wife/mistress/whatever hahahahha and how they blew up the car to get out, omg, it was sheer 13 year old boy humor and I guess more of that rubbed off on me that I would have hoped.

• Matt G

  
  Curly: Don't forget to dot the i's. Moe: Certainly. Here's something I never imagined myself saying - The Three Stooges is an incredibly charming flick with a whole lot of heart. Don't get me wrong, I'm totally against slapstick humor - when it is used in… More
  Curly: Don't forget to dot the i's. Moe: Certainly. Here's something I never imagined myself saying - The Three Stooges is an incredibly charming flick with a whole lot of heart. Don't get me wrong, I'm totally against slapstick humor - when it is used in the wrong fashion. I believe it works best here because that's what The Three Stooges are all about - silly, immature, hilarious humor. Does this movie have flaws? Of course it does! We've all seen the trailer - we all knew it wouldn't be perfect. What I didn't expect was the amount of fun I would have from watching the film. Furthermore, we are benefitted from our three leads, which are surprisingly faithful to the original cast. The Three Stooges is the type of film that shouldn't be judged unfairly prior to a viewing. Read the whole review at creedsdelight.com

• Bradley W

  
  The Three Stooges reminded me of what I love more than anything in a comedy film, and that's physical humor. I laughed, I will admit this to all. But I did not love the film and I think there was some major issues keeping it from being a truly great comedy that we all know the… More
  The Three Stooges reminded me of what I love more than anything in a comedy film, and that's physical humor. I laughed, I will admit this to all. But I did not love the film and I think there was some major issues keeping it from being a truly great comedy that we all know the Farrelly Brothers are capable of making. They have had a string of mediocre films such as Hall Pass, The Heartbreak Kid, and Fever Pitch, which all were decent comedies such as this one, but I want to see them back in their golden days of films like There's Something About Mary, Dumb and Dumber, or even Me, Myself, and Irene. This movie did bring me a lot of good hearted laughs and fun, which many comedies nowadays lack. The show these three had is iconic to this day, people used to adore the Three Stooges and I was very fond of them myself, and I was surprised how well they kept the characters alive and the same as they have always been, because I honestly thought they were going to try and change them but they don't change, just a change in a time period. I always found their humor smart and fun, and they keep that up in this new film, but some characters angered me with how pointless and unfunny they were, sometimes the comedy was too gross for me, and it felt as though they wanted to make a Three Stooges movie and just be done with it. But don't let that take you away from it, this is a decent comedy that some may find to be just pure hilarious, I just felt it was ok. The story follows Moe (Chris Diamtopoulos), Larry (Sean Hayes), and Curly who all were abandoned as babies and left at an orphanage. As they grew up they caused destruction and mayhem wherever they went, and it caused anger in the nuns taking care of them. But when the orphanage is too being closed done, Moe, Larry, and Curly go on a journey to the big city to raise money to save their childhood home. But the problem is, they have never been to the big city and will bring their destructive ways with them. The plot is about as smart as a movie on the Three Stooges can get, and although I enjoyed most of the jokes and physical humor that has made the Three Stooges, I wasn't a fan of the whole "killing Sofia Vergara's husband" side plot. But watching them try and raise money was enjoyable and full of laughs and was able to help me ignore the dullness in the subplot. Mainly I came to see the Stooges and they succeeded in bringing me some laughs, but it also gave me some moments where I wanted to throw up especially one scene in the movie where the three have a fight with the urine of babies. The Three Stooges are mainly famous for all the violence, and I can tell you know that this movie is basically just physical humor start to finish and it was as effective as the TV show, so that was probably my favorite thing about the film was that they did not lose touch with what makes The Three Stooges truly funny. Although I had my problem here and there, I left the theater feeling I got my laugh's worth, even if the plot didn't have to try and be something so big which nothing that the Stooges were ever about was. The cast was pretty weak and I did not enjoy most of the ensemble, however the three men who played the Three Stooges surprised me with how well they did portraying the iconic characters. Chris Diamtopoulos played Moe very well and if you think about it, itâ(TM)s a lot of pressure trying to play an icon like Moe Howard (and to be honest he kind of looked a lot like him too). Will Sasso steals most of the laughs in the film playing Curly, and itâ(TM)s well-deserved as he has the same funny humor as well as his dimwitted lovable side that we all love, and Sasso really impressed me. Sean Hayes really pulled off the hair, and even though he doesn't have any really defining moments in the film like Sasso is given, I still enjoyed seeing him in this trio of misfits. Sofia Vergara had absolutely no point in being in this film, she is a funny actress in one of my favorite TV shows Modern Family, but after being in this and The Smurfs I have realized she is nothing more than a movie sex magnet. As for the rest of the supporting cast such as Jane Lynch, Jennifer Hudson, and Kerby Heyborne were boring and were cast in the shadow of the stooges, however I loved (and laughed) the cameo of the Jersey Shore cast that may have been the films shining moment. As for Larry David in a nun's outfit... it all depends on if you find a man in a woman's clothes funny. The Three Stooges was just a decent film in my opinion, it made me laugh and all but there were so many problems with some of the cast, characters, and some jokes that I cannot say I loved it. The joke of the whole movie is that this they are bringing this trio into the 21st century which is much different than then when they worked in the 1950's. I love slapstick humor as much as the next guy, but there is a special way to do and the Farrelly brother did not master it as Ted Healy did, who was the creator of The Three Stooges. But even if the film was not perfect, itâ(TM)s definitely worth your time especially if you enjoy The Three Stooges (as most people do already). I had a group of teenagers in my theater that would not shut up and every time something funny happened they would scream and laugh so you can imagine how hard it was to see the film, but I got through it and can say that my money was well spent. So if you need a great comedy then I would tell you to go search somewhere else, but if you want to jog your memory with the classic trio of stooges that we all know and love or you just want a fun time at the movies, then come check this out.

• Jeff B

  
  Giving moviegoers more N'yuks than Yucks, the Farrelly brothers put the cart before the farce and someway somehow bring The Three Stooges into the 21st century, backstory and all. The odds, of course, were stacked against these this flick being more of a knuckleheaded than… More
  Giving moviegoers more N'yuks than Yucks, the Farrelly brothers put the cart before the farce and someway somehow bring The Three Stooges into the 21st century, backstory and all. The odds, of course, were stacked against these this flick being more of a knuckleheaded than chuckleheaded endeavor. The Farrellys have Babe Ruth kind of stats-yes, there are some ace comedies (There's Something About Mary), but they have a helluva strikeout record too (Shallow Hal). With The Three Stooges, however, they get their forebears' comedy more right than wrong, proving that their brand of Depression-era slapstick is just as funny. Perhaps, this flick's greatest accomplishment is it's PG rating, which affords younger moviegoers an introduction. In this PG-rated comedy, knucklehead orphans Moe, Larry, and Curly (Sasso, Hayes, Chris Diamantopoulos) find themselves embroiled in everything from a murder plot to becoming reality TV stars as they fight to save an orphanage from closure. Truthfully, this reviewer still holds a grudge against H'Wood reinventing classic comedy teams since the A Night at the Opera reworking Brain Donors spit on the Marx Brothers' graves. Here, however, the imitation is more of the flattering kind. Hayes, Sasso, and Diamanoutopoulos nail their Stooge counterparts. Moreso, the episodic chapters give it a breezy 2-reel feel. Granted, the origin runs too long and the paper-thin lame-brain plot owes more to The Blues Brothers than Howard Brothers, but it's a live action cartoon, afterall. It's hard to hate a movie that's worst transgression is the absence of a pie fight. Bottom line: Three cheers.

• Palmer R

  
  This is probably the stupidest film I have ever seen in my life. And yet I laughed my butt off. Now, being the ignorant little fop that I am, I admit that before watching the movies, I knew almost nothing about the Stooges (because as it turns out, there's more than three of… More
  This is probably the stupidest film I have ever seen in my life. And yet I laughed my butt off. Now, being the ignorant little fop that I am, I admit that before watching the movies, I knew almost nothing about the Stooges (because as it turns out, there's more than three of them). All I knew, partially from a song by Adam Sandler, that they were all Jewish, they all looked really weird, and that they'd constantly beat the crap out of each other. The Stooges here, though, actually do a really good job imitating the originals. In fact, they're the only good actors in the entire movie, apart from Larry David as a transvestite nun named Mary-Mengele (after the Nazi doctor guy, a fact which I found hilarious, because this actor is also Jewish). Yes, this film is horrible, but only when the Stooges themselves aren't around. Actresses like Jane Lynch and Jennifer Hudson, who normally do a fantastic job when the former isn't on "Glee," are horrible. Considering that the only other prominent name found is Sofia Vergara (the large-breasted manly-sounding actress from "Modern Family," another crappy TV show), that's bad. The plot is also about as barebones as it gets. It's a murder mystery featuring the Stooges, and every character uses them and their invulnerability that would make Superman jealous, to their own ends. They also try getting money to save the orphanage they live in, how cute. The reason why it's getting such a high rating is because of the three actors playing the Stooges. I've never heard or seen any of them before, but they make this film the most hysterical I've seen in a while. Strangely, the "nyuk nyuk nyuks" and the weird gasps and the "whoob whoob whoob whoobs" (which I stupidly thought they had taken from the show "Futurama" at first) and all the eye poking was funny every time. For the most part, they work, but I feel like they could have been more creative then having one of them shove a live lobster down another one's pants. And there's a scene involving cross-dressing that is easily the most disgusting moment of the year. The part of this film I dreaded the most was when one of them is inexplicably casted in the horrible reality show "Jersey Shore," by none other than the Old Spice Guy, Isaiah Mustafa, in the best cameo ever. It's actually much funnier than it seemed in the trailer, as the cast is literally unaware how stupid they look. When the Stooge is the most normal one of the group, there's issues, and they gamely get their asses kicked by the Stooges in the name of a few extra millions. They summed the whole thing up with a brain-dead comment from Snooki: "Wait, so, like, this show is only made for the ratings?" So if you want to see the movie that's so stupid it's hilarious, you might as well see this one. Put some earphones on when the Stooges or Larry David aren't around, and notice how supermodel Kate Upton's Catholic nun bikini has almost disappeared from the film. Nyuk nyuk nyuk.

• Fascade F

  
  A wee bit repitious on the slapstick schtick...but all swings and wind ups were well delivered! An incredible movie with a hilarious adventure in tow. Moe (Chris Diamantopoulous), Larry (Sean Hayes) and Curly (Will Sasso) have re-created those three immortal characters better than… More
  A wee bit repitious on the slapstick schtick...but all swings and wind ups were well delivered! An incredible movie with a hilarious adventure in tow. Moe (Chris Diamantopoulous), Larry (Sean Hayes) and Curly (Will Sasso) have re-created those three immortal characters better than the way I remembered them back in the days on black and white television...In need of a rare type of comedy...slapstick...this is indeed the remedy. Please see this and remind the children that the STUNTS in this film is not real!!! Other than that hilarious slapstick is back!

• Jon O

  
  This is about as good a "Three Stooges" film as one could expect from the Farrelly brothers, circa 2012. Diamantopoulos and Sasso are excellent. Hayes, not so much.

• Juan C

  
  this is a true way of tributing the almighty masters of the slapstick, slapping, comebacks, nuck nuck nucks trios that made silly slapstick into an art form! i've never laughed this hard since airplane! its that good! the three men whos job to fill in the shoes of the legendary… More
  this is a true way of tributing the almighty masters of the slapstick, slapping, comebacks, nuck nuck nucks trios that made silly slapstick into an art form! i've never laughed this hard since airplane! its that good! the three men whos job to fill in the shoes of the legendary trio have made the masters proud by perfectly capturing the chemestry and comedy of the trio! like 21 jump street, this is a movie that knows its source well, and has given it an entire amount of respect as well as laughter! go watch it for yourself, your in for a real knockout! A+

• Philip P

  
  Let me start by saying that I was never introduced to the comedy of the original three stooges when i was a child. I have of course known about them since I was young and would see old clips and commercials on TV, but never had I settled down and actually watched an episode. Going… More
  Let me start by saying that I was never introduced to the comedy of the original three stooges when i was a child. I have of course known about them since I was young and would see old clips and commercials on TV, but never had I settled down and actually watched an episode. Going into a movie about them that seemed to be more of a tribute than anything I figured I would obtain a pretty fine idea of what the original had to offer and why it has become so beloved. For the most part this seems to be true. When the talkings of a movie about the stooges came up it seemed natural that the brothers Farrelly would be at the helm. They seemed to have a loving relationship with the series that likely inspired them as young filmmakers to create the kind of comedies they've become famous for. Though I would have preferred to see the more prestigious version of this film where Sean Penn played Larry, Benincio Del Toro was Moe with Jim Carrey as Curly it is nice to see that the project was able to rebound and for the most part, land on its feet. While their has been hesitation from pretty much everyone to embrace this film given its horrible trailers and TV spots or simply because you might be a fan of the original and think of this as blasphemy; the good news is that the Farrelly's have produced a family friendly film that doesn't wear out its welcome or short you on the gags you really came to the movie to see. It is indeed a loving tribute to the series and the characters with some Farrelly-esque moments but all in all isn't nearly as bad as we all imagined it would be. The three acts of the script have been clearly identified in the film as they pose as if each individual episodes that form this coherent film. The plot of the film has something to do with the stooges raising money to keep open the orphanage that has raised them and where they still live and work in their mid-30's. Their adventure to round up $830,000 is of course lined with obstacles and adventures that put the guys in many a complicated and dumbfounded situations but does the plot really matter here? No, not really but it is expertly put together and layers the elements of moral lessons to be learned just perfectly. It is also fun to watch as celebrities like the hilarious and gorgeous Sofia Vergara show up throughout. There's also Larry David being a scene-stealer as the mean nun, an underused Jane Lynch as mother superior and an out of place Jennifer Hudson as the token black nun. Stephen Collins (7th Heaven) shows up for a few scenes and in a very Farrelly move Moe is dropped in as a cast member on Jersey Shore which of course features cameos from the likes of Snooki and the Situation (although I would have preferred it more had Moe and Pauly D gotten together). Each of the stooges go through an emotional journey in a nice touch of theme that has to with the importance of brotherly love, as well as the importance of family. It gets sweet and a little sappy but more importantly it never lacks the slapstick humor (no matter how easy the joke) and never loses sight of what it is in being a tribute to the original pranksters. What the film really comes down to though is how well the three actors imitate the original stooges. While these actors aren't the major stars that were one time attached to the project each does have some TV credit and are nothing short of great at mimicking the original Larry, Curly, and Moe. As Curly will Sasso (Mad TV) might be an obvious choice for his looks he has to be given credit for looking eerily similar to the original and while his impersonation is probably the one that is easily seen through it is tricky to judge because Curly had the most defining characteristics. Whether it be the hand movements, the high voice, or the body language, each aspect of the character was very specific and with such a high order Sasso had tall orders to emulate a character who is essentially a carbon copy without seeming over the top. Over the top in the means of his impression as his actions will naturally be over the top. Sasso handles it well for the most part, while it may be difficult to look past it as anything more than an impression at first we eventually tune into it and we are more at ease about it. In almost a spot on bit of casting Will & Grace alum Sean Hayes inhabits the role of Larry. It was a questionable choice at first as Hayes really doesn't resemble the original Larry all that much, but with the right amount of make-up and that hair he comes across perfectly. The voice, the movement is spot on and the same can be said for Chris Diamantopoulos (24). He not only looks the part of ringleader Moe but he has the very distinct accent down pat and marches through the story with confidence and ignorance just like we would expect him to. It is easy to see why it was hard for the Farrelly's to find three actors that wouldn't mind taking on the iconic roles and despite the fact their will still be criticism it will not be at the fault of these actors who don't attempt to do "versions" of these characters, but are in fact doing Moe, Larry, and Curly on the nose. While this has clearly been a labor of love for the Farrelly brothers it seems to have paid off. I didn't personally have a lot of hope for the film going into it, but afterwards and after seeing all the faces of the children reacting to the film it was clear that they accomplished what they were going for. This is one of those movies that I would have seen as a child, that my parents would have purchased because it was guaranteed entertainment and I would have watched it over and over again until it was burned into the DNA of my childhood. That's what I saw on the faces of those kids and the minds of their parents as I exited the (crowded) theater. Throughout it was clear that everyone in the theater was enjoying themselves and it boils down to one simple thing: the humor. It is basic, but it is hilarious, there is sometimes nothing better than watching grown men act like idiots and while today's comedians have seemed to advance the comedic landscape by playing these man-children it was the stooges who did it first. To watch a grown man pinch another's nostrils with a pair of tongs or to see them get belted in the head with whatever object is handy never seems to grow old, especially when aided by those classic sound effects. The movie plays the persona's of these knuckleheads just right, giving them the roles that relate to someone at every age and no matter if you think this is another case of Hollywood mining old ideas for new money, I think it is a good thing that younger generations are being given this big budget introduction to the stooges and the product we have been given is a fine tribute to some of comedies greatest heroes.

• Christopher O

  
  I got to relive my childhood for 92 minutes watching this movie. The Farrelly Brothers pay a fairly good tribute to this beloved comedy team. Their casting was almost dead on and Will Sasso makes you think Curly has been reborn, he is that good. My least favorite was the actor playing… More
  I got to relive my childhood for 92 minutes watching this movie. The Farrelly Brothers pay a fairly good tribute to this beloved comedy team. Their casting was almost dead on and Will Sasso makes you think Curly has been reborn, he is that good. My least favorite was the actor playing Moe but Sean Hayes was also very good as Larry and his voice is dead on. The laughs are abundant and mostly unoffensive. The plot is mindless and the casting of Larry David is too strange for words. I needed a good laugh and mindless entertainment when I went to see this and I was not disappointed. Nyuk Nyuk Nyuk!

• Jason C

  
  I was pleasantly surprised by The Three Stooges. It was a funny, innocent movie that had decent entertainment value. It's also a Farrelly Brothers movie. It's more in line with their older films rather than the newer junkers they've put out (like Hall Pass, The… More
  I was pleasantly surprised by The Three Stooges. It was a funny, innocent movie that had decent entertainment value. It's also a Farrelly Brothers movie. It's more in line with their older films rather than the newer junkers they've put out (like Hall Pass, The Heartbreak Kid). The actors did a pretty good job. Sean Hayes stood out to me. I honestly didn't recognize him until later in the movie. Sofia Veraga did also. She's a beauty with great comedic timing. I wouldn't say drop everything and go see The Three Stooges, but it's worth watching, especially with the limited bunch of films that were released this week.

• RJ M

  
  One of the better surprises of recent memory. I was really expecting the worst, but actually got more than my share of good laughs. Full review to come.

• Jim W

  
  It's funny how a movie so stupid managed to win me over by the end, I guess it's hard not to like watching the cast of Jershey Shore get beat up by Moe. Plus where else can you see Larry David as a Nun?

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