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Partnerships are never easy—whether it’s a marriage or a business relationship. For comedy team Laurel and Hardy, their Hollywood partnership made them world famous, but it also came with its share of challenges. And the biopic Stan & Ollie explores some of those challenges in the pair’s later years.
Stan & Ollie catches up with the comic duo (played by Steve Coogan and John C. Reilly) in the later years of their career. Once one of the most successful teams in Hollywood, the years of contract disputes and other issues have put a strain on their careers and their relationship. But, in 1953, they’re ready to make a big comeback—first with a British tour and then with a new Robin Hood movie. But weak ticket sales and tension between the partners and their wives threaten to derail their big plans.
This charming biopic follows the aging comics in their quest to hold on to their stardom. While it does offer just a glimpse into the duo’s glory days, it spends more time exploring the challenges that they faced: the contract negotiations, the betrayals, and the wounds that never completely healed. And as they set out on tour, they have to put everything behind them. They have to work their way back up again: staying in less glamorous hotels, performing in small, empty venues, and doing promotional stunts as they try to rebuild their careers.
From the classic style and touches of the pair’s slapstick humor to the lovable stars and their spot-on performances, it all looks and feels authentic. There are times, in fact, when the lines between the duo’s comic bits and their real lives are blurred, giving a feel for the partners’ natural chemistry.
While following them on what would turn out to be their final tour, then, the film also explores the close bond between the two comics. They may have their arguments and their issues—any two people who spend so much of their lives together will—but their relationship is sweet. They make each other laugh. They boost each other’s spirits. They keep secrets to protect one another’s feelings. And when things get really bad, they come together with the kind of love and respect that’s truly heartwarming.
Stan & Ollie isn’t a wildly funny comedy, and it isn’t an especially thrilling adventure, but it’s a charming tribute to the beloved duo. It’s a must-see for fans. And if you’ve never heard of Laurel and Hardy—or if it’s been a while since you’ve watched one of their movies—it’s sure to have you seeking out their classics.
Listen to the review on Reel Discovery:
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