Review of Stan & Ollie (2018) by Dawdlingpoet — 22 Nov 2021

This is a bittersweet watch - although it is also very funny at times, of course, as well. It follows the famous duo towards the end of their career, when they returned to the UK to embark on a tour of British theatres to perform for the loving crowds. I was very much impressed by the characterisation of both Stan and Ollie by Steve Coogan and John C. Reilly. Its quite an engrossing watch and it seemed quite well shot. There is inevitably an element of artificiality present, due to the plot and if your aware of the story of these two comedy Gods, then you'll know quite well what this ensues (I won't specify for fear of providing unnecessary spoilers incase your not aware of it), hence why I say its bittersweet. I like how it was shot, seeing the two men talk casually behind the scenes and I found myself wondering what I may do if I were to be in their shoes and how differernt things may be for people who were quite as famous nowadays, compared to back when this is set (the early 1950s).

It was fun seeing them perform some of their more famous jokes/elements from their earlier works, including singing the song 'Trail of the Lonesome Pine'. Its a funny and a sad film, both apply. I looked forward to seeing this and it didn't disappoint, I suppose I just wished the story could have been a bit more jolly and a little less sobering but then if it were then it wouldn't be true to Stan Laurel or Oliver Hardy. As a historic comedy biopic, this is a good one, which is worth a watch, just know its not choc full of laughs but of course there are many hours worth of Laurel & Hardy shorts and films if we want that.