Stan & Ollie Movie Review
A historical movie about the legendary comedic duo Laurel and Hardy? Sounds right up my alley. If you don’t know anything about Laurel and Hardy you should check out some of their films (Vulture has a great list for anyone who is interested!). Their slapstick comedy is ridiculous but it does make you laugh. Steve Coogan plays Stan Laurel and does a fantastic job. His voice and cadence sound remarkably similar to the real life Laurel. Oliver Hardy is played by one of my favorites, John C. Reilly. He puts in a really killer performance here. I always forget that he can sing and dance pretty darn well and he gets the chance to showcase it in this. Writer Jeff Pope focuses on the difficult relationship the two men have with each other. Hardy famously did a film without Laurel and that caused tension between them. But their friendship was the most constant relationship in each of their lives and Pope really focuses on that aspect with the story line.
This film covers Laurel and Hardy when they’re a little bit past their peak. Show biz is a tough gig and it’s taken its toll on both of them. They’re in their sixties and their popularity in movies has declined. They go on a tour of Europe to drum up money and publicity to shoot a movie together. It was fun to see their dynamic but also a little sad to think about how their relationship soured a little. The absolute best part of the film for me was not Laurel and Hardy but their wives. Lucille Hardy (Shirley Henderson) and Ida Kitaeva Laurel (Nina Arianda) join the boys for part of the tour. Henderson and Arianda are absolutely hilarious together. They don’t get along at all and have differing opinions about the comedic duo and the roles their husbands play in it. They bicker and snap at each other constantly. The two times I laughed out loud during the film were because of Henderson and Arianda. At one point in the film the ladies get into a bickering match in front of some guests. Laurel and Hardy’s manager Bernard Delfont (Rufus Jones) makes the comment, “Two acts for the price of one.” Indeed.
Film or Movie: Film
You’ll like this film if:
1. You love Laurel and Hardy
2. You like film history
3. You’re a comedy nerd
