Movies: The Three Stooges

Hayes,  Diamantopoulos and Sasso do an uncanny job imitating the Stooges.

"We will do whatever it takes to save the orphanage!  We'll climb mountains!  We'll forge rivers! We'll forge checks!"  If that made you chuckle, then you will enjoy The Three Stooges, starring Sean Hayes, Chris Diamantopoulos and Will Sasso as the Titular Stooges.  Based on the classic comedy shorts from the 30's, 40's and 50's, The Three Stooges is a throwback to the classic comedies of the past,  written and directed by the Farrelly brothers.

I am gonna come out and say it right off the bat, this movie surprised me.  After seeing the trailers and promotional material, I was expecting this movie to be terrible.  However, at times it feels like the actors are channeling the stooges because there are times when I felt like I was watching an original stooges short. The movie follows the boys as they try to raise $830,000 to save the orphanage they grew up in.  I don't think it's much of a spoiler to say that they succeed in the end, because the fun of this movie is in the journey, not in the success. 


There are several funny cameos in the film, but the best would definitely be Larry David as the overbearing nun that raised the boys.  He plays it so over the top and hammy that I couldn't help but laugh. Also, the other nuns are played by Jennifer Hudson, Kate Upton, and Jane Lynch, but there weren't too many laughs from any of them.


However, there are some bad things about this movie.  The stooges split up about an hour into the movie, and this section is just bad.  I'm talking bad on the level of Moe joining the cast of The Jersey Shore.  If you don't like the stooge's humor, Moe running a cheese grater across the foot of The Situation isn't gonna change your mind.


Overall, this movie was surprising.  I liked it quite a bit and found myself laughing out loud in several spots.  However, it's not for everyone to be sure.  If you enjoyed the original three stooges, and could watch three or four of their shorts in a row, then you will like, maybe even love, this movie.  If you are someone that gets tired of their shtick quickly, then you won't like this movie and don't bother seeing it.