STAN & OLLIE REVIEW

*MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS*

Starring Steve Coogan and John C. Reilly as the famous double-act known as Laurel & Hardy, Stan & Ollie takes an affectionate look behind the scenes into their personal lives whilst showing audiences why they were and still are known as one of the greatest double-acts in history.

Stan & Ollie is the heartwarming story of what would become the pair's triumphant farewell tour. With their golden era long behind them, the pair embark on a variety hall tour of Britain and Ireland. Despite the pressures of a hectic schedule, and with the support of their wives, Lucille (Shirley Henderson) and Ida (Nina Arianda), the pair's loves of performing, as well as for each other, endures as they secure their place in the hearts of their adoring fans.

Prior to watching Stan & Ollie, I didn't know what to expect as I hadn't watched any of Laurel & Hardy's short films or any of their sketches, however, I knew who they were and that they were considered one of the greatest double-acts and this feature shows the reason why they were so popular. At first, I was concerned that this feature would only appeal to die-hard fans, who have watched every one of their features and sketches more than once, fortunately, that wasn't the case and I was pleasantly surprised.

Throughout its 97 minute runtime, viewers are given an insight into the lives of the two comedians off-stage and when they weren't making audiences laugh in front of a camera. There are some things revealed in this feature that even die-hard fans will be surprised to discover. I'm not sure if any of what happens in the film is true, however, I can't imagine the director, Jon S. Baird, and writer, Jeff Pope, would want to make anything other than a faithful tribute to Laurel & Hardy. 

In a lot of drama films I've seen, the tone is dark, however, the tone for Stan & Ollie is lighthearted and is an easy watch. In the second half of the feature, we see Hardy struggling with his health and unable to perform on stage with Laurel. I think a lot of people in Hardy's situation would've given up, however, Hardy continued to perform with Laurel, despite doctor's concerns, and I thought that was very respectable of him and his decision showed how much he loved performing. The film ends with Hardy giving his last performance on stage with Laurel and it's quite an emotional scene. 

Finding actors to portray the famous double-act was always going to be hard, however, from the beginning both Baird and Pope said that Coogan and Reilly were their first choices. Both actors are known for their comedic and dramatic roles and, in their performances of Laurel and Hardy, they blend the two together and give impressive performances. Both Coogan and Reilly share chemistry and their friendship seems genuine. While Coogan gives a strong performance as Laurel, it's Reilly who leaves a lasting impression as Hardy. He thoroughly captures Hardy's love for performing and resembles the character really well. He's currently nominated at the Golden Globes for his performance. Also notable are Henderson and Arianda who portray the wives of Laurel and Hardy, Lucille and Ida. The latter, like her husband, is very driven and has a tough side that clashes with the former's more easy-going, but no less tough, attitude. Both women reflect their husbands' personality dynamic, however, while the men are in a physical gag comedy, the women are playing in a parallel, verbal screwball comedy. I liked this approach to their characters as it would've been boring to see wives who were one dimensional and were only there to support their husbands. 

Most biopics focus on their characters' rise to fame, however, the majority of Stan & Ollie focuses on their lives during their farewell tour in Britain and Ireland. I think that this was a smart choice as a lot of people, especially fans, will already know their story and how they became famous. We see Coogan and Reilly recreate some of their most famous sketches and performances, including 'Boiled Eggs and Nuts'. However, despite being successful in the beginning of their career, they are struggling to sell out theatres and Laurel soon discovers that there's no money for another feature. From an outsider's perspective, it can seem like Laurel and Hardy had perfect lives, however, this feature shows that their lives were far from perfect, especially with Hardy's health deteriorating. However, what I found most respectable about the pair, was that they still carried on and entertained the few audience members who were in the theatre. Despite a brief falling out midway through the film, the pair are are able to overcome their differences and forgive themselves. 

With impressive performances from both Steve Coogan and John C. Reilly as the beloved double-act, Stan & Ollie is a lighthearted biopic that captures the highs and lows of their careers. I can imagine Laurel & Hardy gaining a lot of new fans after viewers see this feature as it shows why they were so successful and popular at the peak of their career and why they're still considered one of the greatest double-acts today. 

7/10