Watch Stan & Ollie

Stan & Ollie is a 2018 biographical comedy-drama starring Steve Coogan, John C. Reilly, and Shirley Henderson. Directed by Jon S. Baird, the film follows the comedic duo Laurel and Hardy during their last tour of the United Kingdom and Ireland in 1953. The movie begins in 1937, where we see Laurel and Hardy at the peak of their career with their fans adoring them. From there, the film jumps to 1953, the year in which the entire story is set. Stan and Ollie are a little faded and old now, and they are struggling to fill theaters and attract fans – unlike in their heyday.

It is revealed that Stan and Ollie have not made a movie in several years and the current tour is an attempt to raise enough money to produce a film they have written together. The duo decides to start their tour in the UK but are met with a lukewarm response. The film excellently portrays the differences between the younger versions of Stan and Ollie and their older versions, both physically and in their acting itself.

Stan and Ollie do not have much success in the UK and the rest of their tour is also jeopardized. Despite this, they push on and continue to perform in smaller venues, gently ribbing each other and maintaining their dynamic comedic routine. Throughout the film, they are shown to be the type of performers who can never get enough of the stage and love to make people laugh, no matter how small the audience.

The relationship between Stan and Ollie is one of the highlights of the film. They have a complex dynamic – working together for so long means they have developed an almost familial bond, but there are still unresolved issues and pent-up feelings that bubble to the surface. As their tour progresses, the film delves into their past, showing glimpses of their partnership behind the curtain. When things go wrong on their final tour, we see how much they mean to each other and the great lengths they are willing to go to continue performing as a duo.

This film has comedic moments but it primarily feels more like a drama. The mundanities of hotel rooms and breakfasts are explored; this is a quieter film that has realism rather than fantasy. However, the legendary comedy duo still manages to wring a few laughs out of audiences in iconic scene recreations that are wonderfully nostalgic.

The acting in Stan & Ollie is superb. Steve Coogan, in particular, shines in his portrayal of Laurel. Coogan perfectly captures Laurel’s mannerisms and is able to convey the complex emotions hiding behind the smiles and jokes. John C. Reilly is also excellent as Hardy, providing vulnerability and heart to his character. The chemistry between Coogan and Reilly is so believable that it makes it hard to imagine anyone else portraying Laurel and Hardy.

Shirley Henderson, who plays Lucille Hardy, deserves special mention. She is the emotional heart of the film and brilliantly captures the tensions and emotions of the relationships between the main characters. It is a testament to the quality of the performances that the audience feels invested in the characters and their struggles.

Overall, Stan & Ollie is a heartfelt tribute to the comedic duo of Laurel and Hardy, exploring their relationship and their final tour. The film manages to capture the essence of their comedic timing while also providing depth to their characters. The performances of Coogan, Reilly, and Henderson add to the poignancy of the film and make it a must-watch for fans of Laurel and Hardy.

Stan & Ollie is a 2018 comedy with a runtime of 1 hour and 37 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 7.2 and a MetaScore of 75.