The Three Stooges (2012)
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The iconic comedy trio attempts to save their childhood orphanage from foreclosure while becoming entangled in a murder plot and a reality TV show.
The story
In a 21st-century setting, the legendary comedy trio Moe, Larry, and Curly are still living at the orphanage where they grew up, now working as maintenance men. When they are informed that the orphanage must close unless they can raise $830,000 in 30 days, the three volunteer to find the funds. However, their efforts quickly lead them into a series of mishaps, including a botched hit job for a woman seeking to inherit a fortune and an unexpected audition for a reality television show.
Full plot (contains spoilers)
The film is structured in three acts. In the first, the trio works as maintenance men at their orphanage. After a series of accidents involving a malfunctioning bell and a falling Monsignor, they are tasked with raising $830,000 to keep the facility open. In the second act, they are hired by Lydia to murder her husband, Mac, but they botch the job, leaving him in a hospital. They later discover that Lydia's husband is actually a friend from their orphanage days, Teddy. During a failed scheme to sell salmon, they are separated, and Moe is cast as 'Dyna-Moe' on the reality show Jersey Shore. In the final act, Larry and Curly reunite with Moe to save a sick girl, Murph, and thwart Lydia's murder plot. They discover that Lydia's husband, Mr. Harter, was the true mastermind behind the plot. After the villains are arrested, the trio learns the orphanage's funding came from the Jersey Shore producers as an advance for a new show, 'Nuns vs. Nitwits.' The film ends with the trio riding away on mules.
- First release year
- 2012
- Runtime (minutes)
- 92
- Production countries
- United States
- Original languages
- English
- Directors
- Peter Farrelly; Bobby Farrelly
- Writers
- Mike Cerrone · writer; Peter Farrelly · writer; Bobby Farrelly · writer
- Cast and characters
- Chris Diamantopoulos · Moe Howard; Sean Hayes · Larry Fine; Will Sasso · Curly Howard; Larry David · Sister Mary-Mengele; Jane Lynch · Mother Superior; Sofía Vergara · Lydia Harter; Jennifer Hudson · Sister Rosemary; Craig Bierko · Mac Mioski
- Genres
- slapstick comedy
- Themes
- friendship; loyalty; slapstick humor
- Tone and mood
- slapstick; anarchic; funny
- Premise and plot tags
- orphanage; reality TV; murder plot; slapstick
- Source material / true-story basis
- the 1925–1970 comedy trio of the same name
- Franchise connections
- The Three Stooges
- Reception
- The film received mixed reviews from critics, who praised the performances and humor but criticized the convoluted narrative. Audiences gave it a B- rating.
- Awards and nominations
- Most Original TV Spot · Golden Trailer Awards · 2012 · Nomination
- Production trivia
- The film was in development hell for a decade.; The Stooges were cast despite the fact that the lead actor was considerably taller than the original Curly.
Film metadata comes from the open sources listed in Credits & Contact. Catalogue details may be incomplete.
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