Filmed entirely in the State of Georgia at peachy locations, The Three Stooges almost starred Sean Penn, Johnny Depp, Paul Giamatti, Jim Carrey and Benicio Del Toro. They all wanted the film shot in Canada where their other movies have been made but the producer said no. Instead the Stooges, aka Larry, Moe and Curly, are played by Sean Hayes, Chris Diamantopoulos and Will Sasso. When you see the film you will understand why the first group was not needed. These guys are perfect. Make that poifect.
TTS is a new version of the films made from the 30’s through the 60’s when TTS were a comedy hit. They are as well known as the Marx Bros., Laurel and Hardy, Abbott and Costello, and Martin and Lewis. They may not have been as good, but they were good at what they did. They were always known for the characterizations and nonstop mayhem they dealt out to each other and most of the folks around them.
The new film does not make fun of the Stooges or attempt to parody them. Instead it attempts to continue their legacy and humor. This was all at the obviously loving direction of the Farrelley brothers, Peter and Bobby. They have studied the Stooges and brought them back to the screen as if they had never left.
The three actors in this movie all look and sound like the original group. Since the storyline takes the Stooges from infants to 10 year olds then to 35 year olds you will get a chance to see the gang first as babies then as adolescents (the kids playing the parts are also dead on) then in their adult phase. Not that they ever really grow up. They are like Peter Pan if he were a pro-wrestler.
The innocent and simple storyline concerns saving the orphanage where they grew up and still live, unadopted, 35 years later. They need $830,000 but are not sure how to get it. They get involved in a murder plot which takes them through an amazing set of incidents. All the while, typical Stooges comedy set pieces are unveiled that are clever and fun. And Stooges fans will enjoy the constant blows to each others heads and bodies as well as other ongoing physical and verbal humiliation they perpetrate on each other and the other actors.
This a film that is fine for the whole family despite the PG rating. The directors even add a caveat at the end to explain the rubber props and fake eye poking that is used. They don’t want any of the kids to try this at home. I did. It hurts. Poifectly.
Rated 3.5 out of 4.0 yuk yuk yuk yuks
