The Current Cinema: Stan & Ollie (2018)

Film bios of vintage favorites are usually notorious failures. Inaccuracies abounding, lackluster performances, even the most basic details are all wrong. This is especially true when it comes to comedians: “The Buster Keaton Story,” “Chaplin,” “W.C. Fields and Me,” “Bud and Lou,” “The Three Stooges,” and “Martin and Lewis” all falter for these reasons.

So I went into a screening of the new film “Stan & Ollie” with some trepidation. The coming attractions trailer focused on a conflict that didn’t actually happen. And the overall look of the trailer made it seem like a sad movie about an old, tired comedy act struggling to stay relevant. I didn’t think it would be any better than the others. Even after I read celebratory posts from learned friends, I thought there was a good chance their emotional attachment to the subjects clouded their discernment.

I was very pleasantly surprised, and very glad to be wrong.

“Stan & Ollie” is a warm and heartfelt tribute to the greatest comedy duo of them all. It does take place at the end of their career during the early 50s, and there are scenes regarding pent up bitterness over past choices that just are not at all true. But when we disregard the filmmakers’ penchant for creating a more dramatic narrative, what emerges is a study of a human relationship that mirrors what Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy managed to convey in their films.

First, and most obvious, are the performances by Steve Coogan as Laurel and John C. Reilly as Hardy. Both men disappear within their roles in a manner that I have not seen since Martin Landau won an Oscar playing Bela Lugosi in “Ed Wood.” Not only do these actors nail the off-screen Stan and Babe, they also manage to effectively recreate the on-screen Stan and Ollie. Neither is an easy task, and both actors are exceptional.

Also, the trajectory of their relationship is impressive. The film opens with them at the Hal Roach studios about to go out and do their classic dance for “Way Out West,” which is currently being filmed. Sitting back in the dressing room, Stan and Babe exchange stories about past relationships, chuckling at their misfortunes and acknowledging their shared problems in romance. When we shift to the bulk of the film which takes place 15 years later, they are settled in happy marriages, but no longer actively making films as stars.

Along with the afore-mentioned inaccuracies utilized for greater dramatic effect, the only other negative is that the film is a bit clunky and meandering during its center. But it quickly redeems itself when an ailing Hardy gathers his strength and struggles through the remainder of the tour. The power of the performance, the respect for the theater, the love of the fans, and the genuine bond the two men shared are the focal point of the story. Even one who is not familiar with Laurel and Hardy movies will be moved and entertained.

Because of this film, Laurel and Hardy have received some attention in mainstream publications, and have been discussed in newspapers even outside of film reviews. If just one youngster sees this movie and decides to curiously investigate the actual Laurel and Hardy films through easily available and accessible sources like YouTube, then this film has accomplished something beyond its immediate entertainment value.

Stan & Ollie is now available on DVD and blu ray at this link: Stan & Ollie