The Three Stooges: The Movie- 7/17/12 Review

[Scowl]

Originally Posted by Barry the Nomad

I posted this over in the theatrical thread for the movie:

Thought I'd just share that I picked up the blu-ray. Extras are pretty good! Best one is a 10 minute history of the Stooges (from inception to the present). They had the head of the Three Stooges private company talking, as well as Moe's great granddaughter who cameos in the movie.

The casting featurette was amazing, simply because of how committed Chris Diamantopoulos was to the role of Moe. He even showed up for the casting call in full costume including the haircut and the signature bags under the eyes.

Sound effects featurette didn't explain how the original sounds were made (foley devices, etc) but it did show that they took original elements from the shorts, cleaned them up and they show off scenes with and without the sounds.

Screen test was an early version of a scene that ended up in the movie, with different actors playing the supporting characters. Great show of the main trio's talent.

Haven't fully watched deleted/extended scenes, but there are 10 minutes worth and the ones I have seen are completed with sound effects.

Movie video and audio quality looks good, as one would expect from new releases.

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Re: being a true fan

I totally get why some Stooge fans hate this movie. It feels, to them, like a cash-in on a great legacy. Like these guys don't deserve to mimic the classic routines. Also, they probably hate the stuff that I, as a fan of the movie, didn't quite like: the dirtier jokes, the child actors, some weak supporting characters.

So to say that a hater of the 2012 movie is not a fan of the Stooges is not right.

Having said all that, I do think that some haters are far too cruel in their opinions. I tried to join the Three Stooges fan forums http://moronika.com/ but found even the mods to be way too mean in their comments on the film, so far so that even positive comments were quickly shot down with stuff like "so were supporting this movie now?" Calling actors like Will Sasso talentless asswipes. Really? The main three actors are the strongest parts of the movie, even negative reviews note that the guys are a delight to watch.

Here's my take on the whole thing: It's a tribute act, it's a cover band. It was done out of love for the material by the Farrelly bros. It was probably a cash grab from the Three Stooges parent company C3, but at least they hired guys who have an honest love for the material. Hell, look at the main credits! Any other director would probably just play rock music and have titles flying about like any other dumb comedy.

Do people attend Kiss cover bands and moan "They're not the real thing!"? No, because they're not, and they know they're not. THey enjoy it for what it is, love it or hate it, but they know it's not meant to replace the original thing. It's an homage. Will Sasso didn't claim Curly as his own, he is playing Curly who in turn was played by Jerry Howard. Never did marketing proclaim "Will Sasso IS Curly!"

To those who say "who's next? abbott and costello?? the marx bros???" my rebuttal is that unlike the Stooges, those acts strongly relied on the core duo/quartet. You can't replace Abbott because he IS Bud Abbott and always was. It's like replacing Jerry Seinfeld. You can't. But the Three Stooges? It's much more of a shtick: three dumb guys, physical comedy. Sure, they relied on the actors and personalities, and they cannot be replaced in that sense, but even the Stooges themselves replaced members. Hell, by one point Moe was to be the only original stooge, with Curly Joe and a Larry replacement by the name of Emil Sitka. After Moe's death, Curly Joe started up a whole new Stooge trio with two different guys.

Point is, the Stooges have a history of rotating members, the Marx Bros and Abbott and Costello do not. So thanks to that, something like the Three Stooges movie works. In fact, I'd argue that it's better than any of the Joe Besser shorts and any of the Curly Joe shorts. Even with the original Moe and Larry, who really toned down the slapstick by that point and catered to a kiddy crowd.

I'd give the movie a 7/10, the Stooge actors are the stars of the film. Would have been better with better child actors and no Jersey Shore (though I did enjoy how violent Moe was towards them).

Today's your lucky (unlucky?) day. I just so happen to be a moderator on that message board, and probably the one you are alluding to as being "too mean". I beg to differ with you in regards to the marketing for the film: through the entire build-up these guys were trumpeted as "Moe, Larry and Curly"; they wanted us to buy into these three guys being the true Three Stooges.

Even if we agree that the movie is "better than the Besser shorts and Derita *movies (I'll assume you meant to say movies)" that wouldn't be saying a whole lot at all. Personally if I were to rank this movie in with the Three Stooges work (which I would not because the Three Stooges did not work on this film) I would probably put a couple of Besser shorts and Three Stooges Meet Hercules ahead of this movie.

Here's the thing; I am a huge Beatles fan, but I don't go to tribute band concerts. I have no interest in watching a bunch of Beatles fans play Beatles music when I have access to their entire canon at home. The real actual Beatles on tape/CD/mp3/whatever beats watching a tribute band. Likewise for the Stooges; I'd rather watch the actual Stooges do their things, even in some of their lesser outings, than watch a tribute band.