Stan & Ollie
What’s the story?: The story of legendary comedic duo Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy (played by Steve Coogan and John C. Reilly respectively) and their fall from grace.
With the recent announcement that Turner Classic Movies’ streaming service, FilmStruck, was closing after two years, fans of classic films bemoaned the lack of access to movies older than 1980. It’s in films like Stan & Ollie that keep the love of classic film alive, or at least try to tell us something new about the stars of old.
Stan & Ollie follows the comedic duo during a misguided attempt to revitalize their fading stardom by going on a grueling theater tour of England after World War II. It wasn’t successful and ended up putting the final nail in the two’s comedic coffins and threatened their friendship irreparably. It’s sad to think most young people don’t know who Laurel and Hardy are, leaving this film already feeling like a niche drama. Coogan and Reilly look the part, with Reilly perfectly encapsulating Hardy’s aesthetic. If you’re a fan of the original kings of comedy, or just want to learn more about them, this should give you a good crash course while you scour the internet looking for ways to watch the original pair’s work.