“Stan & Ollie”

I’m not 100, so Laurel & Hardy never really meant much for me or made me laugh very much, but there is no denying their importance to film history and comedy. To a certain generation alive in the 30’s & 40’s, they were very beloved and meant a great deal especially during a difficult period when it was important to laugh and smile. This film is about the later days of their lives towards the end of their career. Hardy is sick and Laurel is struggling to keep the team alive and relevant. It’s a very poignant film and sometimes quite sweet. It’s also a little sad. We’re watching 2 old pros who know they’re way past their prime and should be hanging it up, but can’t. Abbott and Costello are the new Laurel & Hardy and they can’t compete with them. Their spouses want them to stop, yet hang with them. The performances by John C. Reilly and Steve Coogan are dynamite and so is the make-up job. They look just like them and the actors really became them. There really isn’t anything groundbreaking to this movie and at times it’s meanders along and drags, but if you stay with it until the end, it’ll bring a little smile.

Rating: (***)