The Three Stooges (sometimes promoted as The Three Stooges: The Movie) is a 2012 slapstick comedy film directed and co-written by the Farrelly Brothers, and co-written by Mike Cerrone. It is based on the 1925-69 comedy trio of the same name, depicting the three being in modern day. It stars Chris Diamantopoulos, Sean Hayes, and Will Sasso portraying Moe Howard, Larry Fine, and Curly Howard.
Synopsis[]
The Three Stooges, Moe, Larry, and Curly, find themselves having to rescue the orphanage that they grew up in. They venture off into the world where they find themselves caught in a series of misadventures that they must eye-poke and slap their way through.
Cast[]
- Sean Hayes as Larry Fine
- Lance Chantiles-Wertz as Young Larry
- Kieran Vine as Baby Larry
- Will Sasso as Curly Howard
- Robert Capron as Young Curly
- Cooper Callihan as Baby Curly
- Chris Diamantopoulos as Moe Howard
- Skyler Gisondo as Young Moe
- Carter Hayden as Baby Moe
- Jane Lynch as Mother Superior
- Sofia Vergara as Lydia
- Jennifer Hudson as Sister Rosemary
- Craig Bierko as Mac
- Stephen Collins as Mr. Harter
- Larry David as Sister Mary-Mengele
- Kirby Heyborne as Teddy
- Jake Peck as Young Teddy
- Carly Craig as Mrs. Harter
- Kate Upton as Sister Bernice
- Marianne Leone as Sister Ricarda
- Brian Doyle-Murray as Monsignor Ratliffe
- Mike "The Situation" Sorrentino as Himself
- Nicole "Snooki" Polizzi as Herself
- Jenni "JWoww" Farley as Herself
- Ronnie Magro as Himself
- Sammi "Sweetheart" Giancola as Herself
- Avalon Robbins as Murph
- Max Charles as Peezer
- Emy Coligado as Ling
- Isaiah Mustafa as Moe's Hip Executive
- Reid Meadows as Weezer
- Dwight Howard as Himself
- Justin Lopez as Peter Farrelly
- Antonio Sabàto Jr. as Bobby Farrelly
Caroline Kimberly Scott, the great-granddaughter of Moe Howard, cameos as a nun.
Production[]
Development[]
A movie about the Three Stooges in modern day had long been in development. In the 1970s, comedy legend Mel Brooks planned to direct and star as Moe Howard in such an adaptation with frequent collaborators Marty Feldman and Dom DeLuise as Larry Fine and Curly Howard respectively. This version ultimately never got made because Brooks could not find a way to sustain a feature length film with common Three Stooges gags.
The film rights to the Stooges were later sold to Columbia Pictures in 1988 by Moe's descendants. Unfortunately, the film stalled and a legal battle followed soon afterwards when it became apparent that the funds were being used for "illicit activities". An attempt was made again in the late 90s with a screenplay by Danny Jacobson and Phil Hartman slated for the role of Moe. Hartman would die soon afterwards.
While TV movie biopic about the Stooges aired in 2000, the next year, Warner Bros. soon picked up the film rights and hired Peter and Bobby Farrelly, well known Stooge afficionados, to direct the film. When progress once again stalled, the rights reverted back to C3 Entertainment and it was soon taken to MGM Pictures. The film once again stalled, due to lack of talent and MGM was forced to give up the rights due to filing for bankruptcy. 20th Century Fox finally bought the rights and were able to push the film forward.
The Farrellys were dead set on making a film that was faithful to the Three Stooges. Not wanting to do a remake or a biopic, they aimed to make new Three Stooges shorts set in modern day. To accomplish this, they opted to have the film be split into three short segments that make up the whole film. When asked, the Farrellys stated that their reasoning for making the movie was because they felt that this was the only way to introduce the Stooges to a new and younger audience, admitting that they were well aware of the negative response people would have about the movie.
Casting[]
The casting for the Stooges was a long and arduous process. Shane Jacobson, Brian Baumgartner, Tommy Snider, Bobby Moynihan, and Bill Chott were considered for Curly. Jeff Daniels, James Marsden, Woody Harrelson, Justin Timberlake, Andy Samberg, and Matt Besser were considered for Larry. Johnny Depp, Russell Crowe, Mel Gibson, Johnny Knoxville, and Hank Azaria were considered for Moe. In particular, Knoxville refused to do a direct impersonation, while Azaria asked for too much money. The roles of Moe, Larry, and Curly ultimately went to Benicio Del Toro, Sean Penn, and Jim Carrey. However, Carrey (who opted to gain weight rather than wear a fat suit) ran into a health scare and decided to drop out for his own sake. Penn also decided to leave to spend time with his family, and Del Toro dropped out soon afterwards.
The Farrellys decided to go for lesser known talent for the roles of the Stooges. The role of Curly when to MadTV star, and professional impersonator, Will Sasso, and the role of Larry went to Will & Grace star Sean Hayes. The role of Moe went to character actor Chris Diamantopoulos who lobbied hard for the part. He had shown up to audition in full costume, despite the sign out front saying to not dress up. He got several call backs and was cast, but his agent did not tell him as he did not think the role was suitable. Angered by this, Diamantopoulos fired his agent and arrived on set to start filming.
Additionally, the role of Mother Superior was suggested to go to Richard Jenkins, before the Farrellys opted to pursue Cher for the part. Eventually, Jane Lynch was cast in the role. The idea of a man playing a female nun would eventually be given to the character Sister Mary-Mengele, played by Larry David.
Video[]
Trivia[]
- The orphanage is said to have been founded in 1934. That is the year the Three Stooges started making shorts at Columbia.
- The original Three Stooges shorts were produced through Columbia Pictures. However, their first feature film, Soup to Nuts, was produced through 20th Century Fox.
- Larry David previously appeared in the sketch show Fridays, where he played Larry Fine in a recurring sketch featuring the Three Stooges.
- The premise of the film is loosely based on the video game adaptation for the Nintendo Entertainment System.
- Teddy is named after Ted Healy, a former comedic partner of the Stooges whom they used to perform form during their vaudeville days.
