IHC Movie Reviews: The Three Stooges (2012)

The Three Stooges, a film by the Farrelly Brothers based on the slapstick films of yesteryear is in theatres, and it’s hoping to bring the Stooges to a whole new generation. The original films are a slapstick staple, but it’s been a lost art in recent years. Is this the film to bring it back, or should it be left a forgotten art form?

After close to a decade in development hell, the Farrelly brothers finally got a steady cast and was finally able to get it made. But are the Stooges even still relevant? Do people even remember slapstick humor? It doesn’t really matter, because there’s just something universally funny about seeing three grown men beat each other senseless. The Farrellys really tried to make a decent story to introduce us to the Stooges, and put them in a comedic situation without it being just straight up goofy. The plot is fast and loose and there really isn’t very much to it. They threw in a good angle to show why they are so inept in current society, which works in a very lazy way. The script is pretty solid, which by that I mean it’s chock full of cheap lame jokes, puns, and overly cheesy lines. The main cast is brilliantly cast. This is the role that Will Sasso was born to play, and Sean Hayes and Chris Diamantopoulos is spot on. They aren’t the characters so much as great character actors doing their best Stooges impressions. But it works, and as much as it kills me to say, it isn’t bad. 

As far as the rest of the film, it’s really a mixed bag. They really tried to force too much into the film as far as I’m concerned, and some of the skits just seem out of place. I personally could have done without all of the lame pop culture references and jokes and the whole Jersey Shore subplot. I understand that the film takes place in the modern day… you don’t have to remind me with stupid jokes every 14 minutes. Everything else comically is fairly entertaining though. The majority of the hilarity is completely over the top, and the set ups always follow through in the most unexpected ways. As much as I don’t want to say it, but the humor with interwoven puns and jokes is actually good. I actually laughed quite a bit at the lame jokes and puns, which surprised me. A lot. 

I came into this film really wanting to hate it. Everything I had seen for it just made it seem like a quick cash grab and completely devoid of humor. That wasn’t exactly the case, though. I enjoyed most of it. I really did. But when you boil it down, its more on a cinematic level with Jackass then most modern comedies. It’s laughing at people getting hurt in a weird variety of ways and bad jokes. It completely could have done without all the pop culture jokes and modern day references, but I guess you have to have it to make the film feel relevant. It’s a fun, empty movie that will have you chuckle at lame puns and people getting their nose hair ripped out. I wouldn’t say it’s the best 10 bucks you could spend at the theatre right now (That prize still goes to Cabin In The Woods) but it could be worse. 

I give it a solid 3 out of 5. If you find humor is tons of bad puns and people getting hit with close to everything imaginable, then you’ll probably find something to like about this one.