The Three Stooges Review

The Three Stooges (Moe, Larry and Curly) were a comedy trio from the 1930’s who were known primarily for their Vaudevillian, slapstick style of humor, and made a number of short subject films. They were essentially sketches that would involve them having to complete some big task and end up messing it up. I know they were popular and funny for their time but their main form of comedy was physical. Often Moe would boss Larry and Curly around, bonking their heads together or poking them in the eyes. Back in the 30s that kind of comedy was still being explored; since then however comedy has evolved into more sophisticated verbal jokes, as opposed to corny puns and someone hitting someone else with a hammer.

So now we have a modern day movie about them, titled “The Three Stooges” and directed by The Farrelly Brothers, which basically shows us is that three other actors, other than the originals, can do impersonations of the Stooges. The Farrellys, along with their writing partners Bradley Thomas and Charles B Wessler, have taken the trio and all their original trademark tendencies (you know, “Nyuk, nyuk, nyuk”) and have put them in a modern setting. For 92 minutes we get the same five gags over and over again. If you’re going to do a remake you have to bring something new to the table. One of the reasons why the recent movie “21 Jump Street” (based off a 90’s TV show) worked is because it acknowledged its source material and poked fun at it.

“Three Stooges” isn’t self-aware, the Farrellys just imitate the original jokes, and therefore the movie is lazy and pointless. Moe (Chris Diamantopoulos) even goes on Jersey Shore (with all of the current cast members) but The Farrellys don’t even take advantage of that cultural difference. Instead of hitting and eye poking Larry and Curly, Moe is doing it to them. What a waste.

To be honest (besides trying to make itself aware of its source material) I’m not sure what could have been done to make “The Three Stooges” good. Maybe they’re better off in short film format, and should just be remembered for what they were instead of giving them the twenty-first century kid movie treatment. What’s next? Is someone going to try and make a modern movie about The Marx Brothers?

1/4