The Farrelly Brothers’ long-gestating film adaptation of The Three Stooges has always been considered an iffy proposition – even when it was originally set to feature an A-list cast with big names like Jim Carrey, Sean Penn, and Benicio Del Toro all lined up to portray the new incarnations of those famously dim-witted, comically-violent siblings.
Moviegoers weren’t exactly blown away by the official Three Stooges trailer, mostly due to ill-conceived elements like an appearance by Snooki from Jersey Shore. It would appear that the Three Stooges marketing team has taken those criticisms to heart, seeing how the film’s new online trailer throws out the pop-cult gags (like swimsuit supermodel Kate Upton’s cameo as a sexy nun) and instead features nothing but nonstop Stooges slapstick madness.
Check out the official synopsis for The Three Stooges, followed by the second trailer:
Left on a nun’s doorstep, Larry, Curly and Moe grow up finger-poking, nyuk-nyuking and woo-woo-wooing their way to uncharted levels of knuckleheaded misadventure. Out to save their childhood home, only The Three Stooges could become embroiled in an oddball murder plot…while also stumbling into starring in a phenomenally successful TV reality show.
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Three Stooges stars comedic actors Chris Diamantopoulos (American Dad!), Sean Hayes (Will & Grace), and Will Sasso (MADtv) as the titular trio that is Moe, Larry, and Curly, respectively. As you can see from the new trailer, they’ve certainly got the looks and mannerisms of the original Stooges down quite pat. Whether or not the new Stooges also possess their predecessors’ sense of comedic timing and charming screen presence… well, that matter is up for debate (though we’re guessing most people’s answer is “no”).
While the Farrellys appear to have done a solid job of imitating the original Stooges’ brand of humor (right down to the elaborate cartoon sound effects), it doesn’t seem that they’ve proven so successful at integrating that old-fashioned comedy style into a modern setting. It’s partly for that reason that one has to wonder if the Three Stooges can manage to please either newcomers or fans of the original comedy team.
The Three Stooges opens in theaters around the U.S. on April 13th, 2012 – so we’ll get a definite answer to that question soon enough.
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Source: Yahoo! Movies
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I’m in, but Pitt Man’s right about the extras. What’re they even doing? I thnik it’d be way funnier if the Stooge’s antics were distracting them from their conversations and confusing them. They should all be watching them hit each other until they finish and then get back to their business.
Imitators, not innovators.
There is a worry that audiences won’t buy the dated comedy in a modern setting, but outlandish cartoon-like violence always gets laughs when (A) you are a fan of slapstick and (B) it’s done well. Modern, slapstick comedy that has worked (and these examples do tend to appeal a bit more to children) can be found in MOUSE HUNT, the very successful HOME ALONE franchise, the not-so-successful, but funny BABY’S DAY OUT (kind of like a cross between a 3 Stooges film and a live-action “Swee Pea” cartoon). As far as rebooting the Stooges, and based on this trailer, it looks right. Some of the questionable gags are expected in this modern setting (any dick or fart jokes that appear in this film are staples of today’s movie going experience), but I do recall Moe shoving a water hose down the front of Larry (or maybe it was Shemp’s) pants. But judging from what I see in this trailer, it’s relatively minor. It was also a smart move to keep this at a PG level, especially where the Farrelly Brothers sense of humor is concerned. They could have taken the Stooges to a completely different, R-rated level.
Now, I don’t necessarily think that the Stooges needed to be redone, but at least we are getting a representation of the Stooges we know. The sound effects are a key element, but more importantly, the actors portraying the Stooges nailed it. I look at this film as an alternate universe of Stoogedom. I am a fan of the Stooges and physical comedy and will see this film if only out of morbid curiosity.
The original Stooges slapstick comedy worked for me when I was growing up in the late 70′s and early 80′s…and those film shorts were 40+ years old then. So whether is makes 100 million opening weekend or it doesn’t make a nickel is to be seen, but based on this trailer, it looks like they succeeded in at least channeling the original Stooges and their comedy for this film.
I can’t wait, man!! I was giggling through the whole trailer…
The problem I have with this movie is that it’s set in modern day. If they had kept it in the 30s-40s era, and made it black and white, then I would see it. I really like Sasso’s performance as Curly.
that hi-note was brilliant.
I think this movie is going to be full of great little moments, but the movie as a whole will be lacking.