Movie Review | "The Three Stooges"

The "Three Stooges" hit theatres this past weekend, and it had itself a mighty impressive showing. Moe, Larry and Curly raked in some 17 million dollars, which was good enough for second place, losing out to the juggernaut known as "The Hunger Games."

Not too bad for three ding-a-lings hitting themselves over the head with hammers for an hour and a half.

But I'm a professional movie reviewer, and I need to let you know if this film was good. I've got to tell you if this film is family-friendly. And you've got to know if this film is anything like the old TV show from way back when.

Let's get to it, I'm ready.

First off, I want to let you know that I was never a huge fan of the television show. I was one of those people who would click through the channels and if I happened to catch it, I'd watch it... and I'd laugh really hard. But it was never "must see" TV for me. Then again, it would be on early on Saturday and Sunday mornings, so most likely my head would feel like it was hit with a hammer from the night before (if you catch my drift).

Let's talk about the film, not the show.

The movie starts off with Moe, Larry and Curly (Chris Diamantopoulos, Sean Hayes, and Will Sasso respectively) being tossed from a car onto an orphanage's front steps, and from there the boys manage to never get adopted and end up living there until they are 35. The boys do odds and ends for the sisters that run the orphanage. Unbeknownst to them, (but knownst to everyone else) they are draining funds from the home with all their shenanigans and mishaps. 

Well, the orphanage is going under, so Moe, Larry, and Curly set off to get jobs in the real world, make $830,000 and save the orphanage. This is not an easy task for the boys. They have no skills. They have no leads. They have no-thing.

They end up running into a childhood friend from the orphanage and try to get money from him, because now he is rich. That doesn't work. But there is a good story that revolves around him.

Moe ends up parting ways with Larry and Curly and lands a job as a housemate on "Jersey Shore." This is quite funny. Seeing Moe live with Snookie, The Situation, and the rest of the tools from that show is hilarious.

I could keep going on with what happens in the film but I think you'd like some of the surprises, so let me tell you about the actors and what-not.

Moe (Chris Diamantopoulos). Who is this guy? I have no clue, but I looked up his bio and he seems to be more of a TV actor. Nothing wrong with that because he was a great Moe. Moe is the ring leader and Chris played the role well. He's a handsome man and in real life he doesn't look a bit like Moe.

Larry (Sean Hayes). Hayes may be a bit more familiar to you. Best known for his role as Jack on "Will & Grace," he has also done pretty well for himself in film. He was in "The Bucket List" and (a guilty pleasure of mine) "Win a Date with Tad Hamilton." As Larry, Hayes did a great job diving into a role that I would never have pictured him in.

Curly (Will Sasso). Personally, I think Curly is the best stooge, so it was going to be hard to impress me... but Sasso killed it. His mannerisms, his hand gestures, and his voice took me to the Curly I know from the show. I couldn't help but laugh every time the camera focused in on him.

So, you want a quick, summed-up review of the actors? They were all great.

Now, the directors. Peter and Bobby Farrelly. How can you NOT like these guys' movies? They blast out comedies that hurt your stomach. And those are the comedies that I like. They have blessed us with "Me, Myself and Irene," "The Ringer," "There's Something About Mary," and possibly the funniest movie ever, "Dumb and Dumber." I'm telling you, there isn't a day that goes by without me saying a line from "Dumb and Dumber." Like, "That's a lovely accent you have there. New Jersey?" or "Kick his ass Sea-Bass!" or "I desperately want to make love to a schoolboy." See, there's three right there, and I'm laughing my ass off right now! "Goodbye my love! BANG!!!"

Anyways, back to the review.

Will this movie rank up there with "Dumb and Dumber?" NO! But there is a nice little place for it wedged in between, let's say "Shallow Hal" and "The Ringer." And that's good real estate because those are good films. Nothing will ever catch "Dumb and Dumber."

My tiny flaw with this film was (and believe me, I liked it a lot) that it was geared more towards the younger crowd. I'm telling you, teenage boys will love this movie. Hell, I loved it. It just didn't have that same vibe that I got when I watched the TV show. I know adult men (ages 50 and older) that can watch the TV show over and over and laugh just as hard the tenth time they see it. I just hope the older folks out there feel the same with this film.

Oh yeah, I almost forgot, you know what makes this film? The sounds. BONK, BANG, DONG, NYUK, NYUK, NYUK! All those funny sounds are hilarious! And the eye poking? FANTASTIC! Slapstick comedy, it just works.

Go see the "Three Stooges" you knuckleheads. You'll like it.

"Why I oughta."

Matty W. Kelley, Patch, reporting.

Fun Fact: Benicio Del Toro was originally cast to play Moe, Sean Penn was cast to play Larry, and Jim Carrey was to play Curly. Things change quickly in Hollywood.

Fun Matty Fact: "Dumb and Dumber," "Airplane!" and "The Naked Gun" are undoubtedly, by far, MY three favorite slapstick comedies ever.... Prove me wrong.