Coogan & Reilly Perfectly Recapture Laurel & Hardy
By J.T. Kolness
Laurel and Hardy, the classic comedians of the early twentieth century, made their charming mark on Hollywood and granting audiences with a one-in-a-million dual pairing of the dainty goof Stan Laurel and the large toe-tapping Oliver Hardy. Beyond Laurel and Hardy, there haven't been many comic duos outside Abbot and Costello, that really had the staying power of these two. Even in the film, as their careers seem to deteriorate and audiences become disinterested in the same-old shtick, it's clear that these two were blissfully unaware of how their legacy would continue to crack smiles long after their deaths. Stan & Ollie, directed by John S. Baird, is a humble, pleasant ride through the last tour of their career, and a reminder of the simplicity of old-time Hollywood where these two could do a song and dance and light up an entire theatre.
While the goofy eccentricity of Laurel & Hardy (played here by Steve Coogan and John C. Reilly) remains in the direction and script, it is far more subtle than would appear on paper. The film acknowledges the zippy physically-screwball nature of the duo's comedy in quirky moments (Laurel having trouble getting luggage through a tight door, Hardy letting his suitcase slide down a giant staircase, etc.) but this a quiet and modest film. Immediately at the start of the film, we are introduced to these two through simple conversation carried on throughout a walk through a studio lot in a long take. They banter back and forth, pat each other's backs, and take their cues on set to perform their western comedy Way Out West (1937). Flash forward 16 years later, and Stan and Ollie continue to perform together, most of the film set during their final UK tour, although their is a strain in their relationship ever since Ollie took a job without Stan. The film carefully examines their friendship and makes certain that the heart of the film never strays away from that central theme, appropriate for a film titled Stan & Ollie.
It's not a groundbreaking film by any stretch. In fact, as solid as it is, a longer film would have only benefited this story as we're only granted a mere 90-minute run time. But it's irresistible. For how often the film softens the edges of these characters and their environment, almost the film equivalent of a plush teddy bear, it successfully finds clever and earnest ways to earn audience smiles, mostly due to the perfectly cast duo. Reilly can do this in his sleep. He's one of our most versatile actors working in the business. But that's only a testiment to his gifts as an performer and he finds all the charm and warmth of Ollie Hardy. At times, it's easy to forget you're not watching Hardy himself although the pounds of makeup from his chin to cheek can at times come off a little rubbery in certain lighting.
Despite Reilly having the more showy role and physical transformation, Coogan in fact is the real surprise here. Typically a very brash and lively actor, Coogan shrinks down here to capture the short, timid, and sensitive Laurel. While Reilly benefits from makeup, Coogan must rely much more on his own unique physical language. So much of his performance is internalized but very present in his humble eyes. He looks far less like the real Laurel than Reilly does Hardy, but Coogan manages to bring Laurel to life in a slightly more understated but more humanized and fully-realized way. Reilly and Coogan are the reason to see the film, for sure, but special recognition to incredibly underrated actresses Shirley Henderson & Nina Arianda for their loving and snappy chemistry as the duo's wives, who are often paired together, complete opposites.
Stan & Ollie has one job and it does it well: to make us love this duo all over again, and even for those unfamiliar with their films or stage performances, can at least get a great sense of who these two were and why they meant so much to so many. As we watch them bounce and kick their feet to the music in front of crowd (sometimes big, sometimes sadly small) and the camera dips down away from the actors portraying Laurel and Hardy and focuses on their shadows on the wooden stage, those silhouettes alone prove their spirits are alive and well, and Coogan & Reilly recapture those spirits tp the best of their talents.
"Stan and Ollie", a Sony Pictures Classics release, is rated PG for some language, and for smoking. Running time: 97 minutes. Three stars out of four.
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