Stan & Ollie is a film with a sweet heart and an innocence which succeeds in its earnestness, and as an homage to the time period in which it's set, however I found the sweetness sometimes a cover for its simplicity, and a humor which is so vintage that I found it difficult to connect with. I didn't laugh once, which is odd for a film about the world's most famous comedy duo.
I suppose the success of this film lies on ones appreciation of Laurel and Hardy in the first place and I admit, I have never been their biggest fan. Humor from this period didn't always age well, and is a reflection of different, simpler times, when 'outrageous' meant a pie in the face, and the line "well, here's another nice mess you've gotten me into!" was considered hilarious. If I had to choose, I would much prefer to spend my time with Buster Keaton, Harold Lloyd or Chaplin, whose work I think is more timeless, and less one dimensional.
Steve Coogan and John C. Reilly are both very good in this film, and their pairing was the main draw for me. Coogan in particular makes for a convincing Stan Laurel, and there is chemistry between the two which is undeniable. But scene after scene, I found the comedy wasn't landing for me, even when the two were 'out of character' and just acting as Stan and Ollie. I also found its melodramatic scenes sappy and overwrought. The script seems a product of another time, which is probably the point, but it takes itself enormously seriously, and lacks in snappy dialogue, shying from anything offbeat, which would have given it an energy I would have appreciated.
It's an odd film for the uninitiated, and if you're not the biggest fan of Laurel and Hardy it might be difficult to connect, in spite of the decency and charisma of its two lead actors. But the themes of friendship and brotherly love aspire to something greater than historical re-enactments, and it can be refreshing to see such earnestness and naivete in a modern film, which is all too rare these days
I suppose the success of this film lies on ones appreciation of Laurel and Hardy in the first place and I admit, I have never been their biggest fan. Humor from this period didn't always age well, and is a reflection of different, simpler times, when 'outrageous' meant a pie in the face, and the line "well, here's another nice mess you've gotten me into!" was considered hilarious. If I had to choose, I would much prefer to spend my time with Buster Keaton, Harold Lloyd or Chaplin, whose work I think is more timeless, and less one dimensional.
Steve Coogan and John C. Reilly are both very good in this film, and their pairing was the main draw for me. Coogan in particular makes for a convincing Stan Laurel, and there is chemistry between the two which is undeniable. But scene after scene, I found the comedy wasn't landing for me, even when the two were 'out of character' and just acting as Stan and Ollie. I also found its melodramatic scenes sappy and overwrought. The script seems a product of another time, which is probably the point, but it takes itself enormously seriously, and lacks in snappy dialogue, shying from anything offbeat, which would have given it an energy I would have appreciated.
It's an odd film for the uninitiated, and if you're not the biggest fan of Laurel and Hardy it might be difficult to connect, in spite of the decency and charisma of its two lead actors. But the themes of friendship and brotherly love aspire to something greater than historical re-enactments, and it can be refreshing to see such earnestness and naivete in a modern film, which is all too rare these days