The Three Stooges
for slapstick action violence, some rude and suggestive humor including language.
Reviewed by: Brian C. Johnson
CONTRIBUTOR
| Moral Rating: | Offensive |
| Moviemaking Quality: |
|
| Primary Audience: | Teens Adults Family |
| Genre: | Comedy |
| Length: | 1 hr. 32 min. |
| Year of Release: | 2012 |
| USA Release: |
April 13, 2012 (wide) DVD: July 17, 2012 |
| Featuring |
Sean Hayes … Larry Will Sasso … Curly Chris Diamantopoulos … Moe Jane Lynch … Mother Superior Sofía Vergara (Sofia Vergara) … Lydia Jennifer Hudson … Sister Rosemary Craig Bierko … Mac Stephen Collins … Mr. Harter Larry David … Sister Mary-Mengele See all » |
| Director |
Bobby Farrelly Peter Farrelly |
| Producer |
Wessler Entertainment C3 Entertainment Inc. See all » |
| Distributor |
 20th Century Studios, a subsidiary of The Walt Disney Studios, a division of The Walt Disney Company
|
“Just say Moe.”
To many readers over the age of 30, the name Three Stooges is synonymous with Saturday morning black-and-white shorts where Moe, Larry, and Curly bumbled their way through various escapades. The Farrelly Brothers (famous for such films as “There’s Something about Mary,” “Me, Myself, and Irene,” and “Shallow Hal”) are reintroducing the Stooges to a new generation who may have missed out!
For those who didn’t get to see the original series, the Three are Moe (Chris Diamantopoulos), Larry (Sean Hayes), and Curly (Will Sasso); they are lifelong friends who grew up in a Catholic orphanage under the strict care of several nuns (in this update the nuns include Jennifer Hudson and Jane Lynch as Mother Superior). The boys are destructive, and no one wants to adopt them. When the archdiocese wants to close the orphanage because of financial reasons, the boys (now adults who have never left the orphanage) go on a quest to somehow find the dough to keep their home open.
Let’s just put it out there—no one is getting an Academy Award for this movie. Some might walk away wondering why such a movie would get made in the first place. Violence galore (anyone familiar with the original Stooges is not surprised by this, at all—this is what they are known for)! Unnecessary attempts are made to sexualize certain scenes, and there is a very unnecessary scene with baby urine being sprayed in excess. Once again, as in most of their films, the Farrelly Brothers try too hard to be funny and try too hard to be sexy. Here’s a tip—write a good script and don’t play down to your audiences.
The charm of this movie (and perhaps its only saving grace) is the spot-on performance of Will Sasso as Curly. There is a great reminiscence factor in seeing these childhood friends on the big screen, for those of us over a certain age, but, overall, there’s not much going on here. I wouldn’t say don’t see it, but just go on a day where you have absolutely nothing better to do with your dollars—or just wait for the DVD or streaming service.
Violence: Heavy / Profanity: Moderate—“Oh my God” (2), “Good Lord” (1) / Sex/Nudity: Moderate—cleavage, tight and revealing dresses, nun in very revealing swimsuit, foot on clothed breasts (accompanied by horn sound effect), lion's prominent scrotum (hit by peanut), bare baby bottom, lobster in Larry's pants
See list of Relevant Issues—questions-and-answers.
Moral rating: Better than Average / Moviemaking quality: 5
Moral rating: Very Offensive / Moviemaking quality: 1
Moral rating: Extremely Offensive / Moviemaking quality: 3½
When a modernized version of a film is degenerate, that is a sad commentary on our culture. Unfortunately, we have been headed downhill.
As a sidenote, I read that Larry had a conversion to Christ during his final days in a hospital. I hope to see him in the future.
Moral rating: Offensive / Moviemaking quality: 3
I am ashamed to say that I kept it on and finished the movie, but that is required in order to leave a comment. No, I would not suggest this movie to anyone who knows that we give an answer before the Lord for what we see and hear. The humor was crude, the main woman in the movie (the wife of the orphan who was adopted instead of Moe) has her cleavage showing in every scene she’s in. She has an adulterous affair, and the man she is having the affair with, she gives a boost to help over the wall, , and he stands on her breast… closing in on the breast… and makes an obscene noise like the honking of a horn when he steps on it.
We had hoped for quite a lot from this movie, because we grew up watching them, but was very sadly disappointed that it couldn’t be more family-friendly… and more funny… the way The Three Stooges used to do it.
Moral rating: Extremely Offensive / Moviemaking quality: ½
Moral rating: Good / Moviemaking quality: 5
Moral rating: Average / Moviemaking quality: 4½
PLEASE share your observations and insights to be posted here.
In addition to physical comedy, many of the laugh out loud moments were from the dialogue, which was fast-paced, hilarious, and worth seeing twice to catch what you missed the first time. Sean, Will, and Chris did such a truly astonishing job of portraying Larry, Curly, and Moe that, at times, it seemed more like watching a recently discovered color movie made during the Stooges” heyday. Not only did they have the slap-poke-whack routines down flawlessly, but their facial expressions, accents, voices, gestures, and reactions were beyond impersonations. It was not like watching guys who look like the Three Stooges in an homage to them, it was more like watching the original Three Stooges in color.
The story involves the boys trying to raise money to save an Catholic orphanage, getting duped into a murder-for-hire scam, and comedy ensues. No obscenities. One use of God’s name (upon seeing a sick girl and her little brother cared for by nuns, Larry says, “Thank God you’re still here.”) The only nudity is a brief view of a baby’s behind and later a very brief close shot of a male lion from behind.
Throughout the movie, a well endowed trophy wife wears tight clothing that accentuate her figure, and there are two brief sight gags involving her cleavage; more funny than offensive. There is also a scene in a nursery involving babies peeing, which parodies a water pistol fight. Otherwise, a funny fast-paced movie. Refreshing that the children in the movie are polite, grateful, and think of others. Part of the story involving Moe’s youth provides an explanation for his chip-on-the-shoulder disposition.
Many one-liners with modern references. My favorite was Curly with an iPhone. I also appreciated the bit before the credits where Bobby and Peter Farrelly take a moment to demonstrate rubber hammers and props used in the movie and to emphasize to kids to never, ever poke anyone in the eyes. It doesn’t come across as the clichéd “don’t try this at home” disclaimer, but more like a sincere, responsible “let’s get serious” moment. Ends on a good note, especially for parents. Overall, surprisingly funny and well done.
Loved the rendition of This Little Light of Mine; Larry gently lifting his hand in praise was great. There’s also a parallel with short-tempered Moe and a grouchy nun and the patience of those around them. Psalm 103:8; Proverbs 15:1, 8; and Ecclesiastes 7:9.
My Ratings: Moral rating: Better than Average / Moviemaking quality: 4½