Stan & Ollie (2018)

Director: Jon S. Baird
Stars: John C. Reilly, Steve Coogan, Shirley Henderson
Runtime: 98 minutes

Synopsis: Laurel and Hardy, the world's most famous comedy duo, attempt to reignite their film careers as they embark on what becomes their swan song - a grueling theatre tour of post-war Britain. 

Performances: 8/10
Screenplay: 7/10
Costumes/Makeup: 9/10
Editing: 6/10
Cinematography: 8/10
Score/Soundtrack: 6/10

Verdict: Chaplin, Keaton, Lloyd. All these names come to mind when one mentions Hollywood's Golden Age of Comedy, which spanned decades from the 1920s to the 1940s. Laurel and Hardy are two other names that come up frequently when this era is brought up. The duo, who made countless films together, is nowadays known to be one of the most successful duos to ever appear on screen. However, not a lot of people are familiar with the couple's struggling last few years together, which saw them face many obstacles that included health problems, repetitive routines, and an increasing tension that came naturally with all the failures they were dealing with.

Jon S. Baird's movie beautifully captures that fall from heaven. It serves as both a tribute to Laurel and Hardy's comedy style as well as a behind the scenes look at Stan and Ollie's dramatic growing struggles. Helped by stellar performances by both Steve Coogan and especially John C. Reilly (who had an interesting 2018 might I add), whose chemistry was one of the reasons why the film worked as well as it did, "Stan & Ollie" kept me interested and in a way entertained throughout its entire short runtime of 98 minutes, and that is despite a couple of cheesy lines, rushed scenes, and a supporting cast not on par with the main one.

I obviously recommend this movie to any fan of the couple's work and to anyone interested in that particular era. It will surely make you smile and break your heart at the same time. 

FINAL GRADE: 7.5/10

To see how "Stan & Ollie" compares to other movies released in 2018, click here.