Review of The Three Stooges (2012) by Blake B — 12 May 2013

Most modern movies are so cynical these days that when one comes along that is unabashedly fun, good-natured and old-fashioned you just have to admire it even when it's not entirely successful. Such is the unfortunate case with "The Three Stooges", a lovingly good humored tribute to a bygone era and simpler time that failed to connect with today's modern society.

It's by no means a great movie, as honestly there aren't a lot of big laughs here, but it's such an honest effort that you watch the entire thing with a smile on your face all the same. So much obvious time went into this, and it was clearly a labor of love for the Farrelly Brothers that it's kind of sad that it wasn't more successful.

The casting of the title roles could not have been more perfect. Will Sasso, Chris Diamantopoulos and Sean Hayes assuredly spent a great deal of time perfecting the mannerisms and they have impeccable comic timing. Even the three young actors playing them as children nail it. The live action and special effects blend together seamlessly, and it's in those two aspects that this film really shines. It really captures the spirit of the original series, and I greatly admired the film for that. There's also a terrifically diverse array of supporting actors having a blast. I especially enjoyed Jennifer Hudson.

"The Three Stooges" is alive with an overwhelming sense of nostalgia and I admired the effort. For a movie that features so much physical abuse, it's oddly gentile and benign.