Stan & Ollie

Name: Stan & Ollie
Genre: Biography, Drama, Comedy
Released: December 28, 2018
Duration: 98 min
Rating: 75
Cast: Danny Huston, Ella Kenion, Greg Canestrari, Harry Hepple, John C. Reilly

2018

METASCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 41 Critic Reviews

See All

USER SCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 88 Ratings

See All

7.4

VOTE NOW

0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

7.4	Your Score
7.4	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 88 Ratings

Would you like to write a review?

There is a 75 character minimum for reviews. If your review contains spoilers, please check the Spoiler box. Please do not use ALL CAPS. There is no linking or other HTML allowed. Your review may be edited for content. 0/5000

Check box if your review contains spoilers

Play Sound

Please enter your birth date to watch this video:

You are not allowed to view this material at this time.

Stan & Ollie (US Trailer 2)

Now Playing: Stan & Ollie (US Trailer 2)

Movie Details & Credits

Sony Pictures Classics | Release Date: December 28, 2018 | PG

Starring: Danny Huston, Ella Kenion, Greg Canestrari, Harry Hepple, John C. Reilly, John Henshaw, Keith MacPherson, Lucy Appleton, Nina Arianda, Pepe Balderrama, Richard Cant, Rufus Jones, Sanjeev Kohli, Shirley Henderson, Stephanie Hyam, Steve Coogan, Susy Kane, Tapiwa Mugweni

Summary: Laurel & Hardy, one of the world's great comedy teams, set out on a variety hall tour of Britain in 1953. Diminished by age and with their golden era as the kings of Hollywood comedy now behind them, they face an uncertain future. As the charm and beauty of their performances shines through, they re-connect with their adoring fans. The tourLaurel & Hardy, one of the world's great comedy teams, set out on a variety hall tour of Britain in 1953. Diminished by age and with their golden era as the kings of Hollywood comedy now behind them, they face an uncertain future. As the charm and beauty of their performances shines through, they re-connect with their adoring fans. The tour becomes a hit, but Stan & Ollie can't quite shake the specter of Laurel and Hardy's past; the long-buried ghosts, coupled with Oliver's failing health, start to threaten their precious partnership. A portrait of the most tender and poignant of creative marriages, they are aware that they may be approaching their swan song, trying to rediscover just how much they mean to each other. [Sony Pictures Classics]… Expand

Director: Jon S. Baird

Genre(s): Biography, Drama, Comedy

Rating: PG

Runtime: 98 min

See All Details and Credits

Watch Now

Buy on

Stream On

Expand

Metascore

Positive:

Mixed:

Negative:

Critic Reviews

100

Mick LaSalle

Jan 8, 2019

A gentle movie. It’s valedictory, with a sense of the ephemeral nature of life, the inevitability of regret, and the bittersweetness of looking back on past happiness. Read full review

Ann Hornaday

Jan 16, 2019

As a winsome glance back, and as a piece of artistic preservation, Stan & Ollie would be enjoyable enough. But it becomes truly transcendent in the hands of John C. Reilly and Steve Coogan, who play Ollie and Stan with intelligence and spirit that go beyond their own uncanny physical performances. Read full review

Jim Slotek

Jan 17, 2019

People expecting plenty of Laurel & Hardy style laughs will be disappointed, obviously, given the movie’s comedy-lions-in-winter theme. But this thoughtful portrait of a long-lasting professional marriage rings touchingly true. Read full review

The Telegraph Robbie Collin

Oct 23, 2018

It is eccentric, sad and stirring to the core. Oh yes – and incredibly funny, too. Read full review

Johnny Oleksinski

Dec 27, 2018

Nothing salacious, and no dropped bombs here. Stan & Ollie portrays the pair less as hot-headed collaborators than a bickering married couple. Read full review

Jason Zinoman

Dec 27, 2018

Steve Coogan and John C. Reilly deliver dynamite performances that capture the expressions and physicality of the star comedians without ever descending into caricature. They never strain for laughs but are consistently amusing. Read full review

Barry Hertz

Jan 16, 2019

As Laurel and Hardy learn by the end of the film, every gig is an opportunity. Good on Coogan and Reilly for possessing the same workhorse mentality – and better luck next time, boys. Read full review

SEE ALL 41 REVIEWS

Write a Review

User Reviews

johndoe2014

Jan 15, 2019

Both of these actors deserve oscar nominations. Not only do they do an excellent job of playing the real men, but their comedic characters as well. The movie picks up steam in a gentle way and by the end it is powerful and exceptional.

4 of 4 users found this helpful40

IsaacJ

Jan 13, 2019

Here, John C. Reilly and Steve Coogan star in a biopic as delightful and fuzzy as its subject, the legendary comedy duo, Laurel and Hardy. Jon S. Baird directs the film, which documents the lesser-known twilight years of the pair; Stan and Ollie, aging and fading from the public eye, embarkHere, John C. Reilly and Steve Coogan star in a biopic as delightful and fuzzy as its subject, the legendary comedy duo, Laurel and Hardy. Jon S. Baird directs the film, which documents the lesser-known twilight years of the pair; Stan and Ollie, aging and fading from the public eye, embark on a tour of Britain in order to raise funds for a big (and almost too good to be true) movie break to bring them back in the limelight. The film being called Stan and Ollie is poetically appropriate; we are being given a wonderfully personal look at the men behind the celluloid. The end result is a movie that is simply irresistible.
John C. Reilly and Steve Coogan star as the titular leads, in portrayals that are both uncanny and effortless. Reilly plays Hardy with a jovial honesty, his clumsy gait and trademark finger-twiddle completing a gorgeously authentic performance. The same is true of Coogan, whose portrayal of Stan Laurel is well-rounded and classically humorous. This film truly could not work without the two actors, who commit to their roles with ease in a partnership that seems as natural as Laurel and Hardy themselves. However, it is Rufus Jones’ hilarious tour manager who hits the nail on the head, quipping that we get “two double acts for the price of one”, when referring to Stan and Ollie’s fiercely protective wives. Shirley Henderson and Nina Arianda give the film another layer in humorous supporting performances as Lucille Hardy and Ida Laurel, with Arianda, in particular, being absolutely scene-stealing.
Jeff Pope (who worked with Steve Coogan on Philomena) writes a sharp and versatile script; throughout the film, the lines are blurred between the on-screen personas of Stan and Ollie and their personal lives. This makes for results that are, as expected of this film, utterly hysterical, yet also comes with the difficult job of making sure the comedy and drama coincide comfortably. Stan and Ollie does this perfectly; while the film is certainly an irreverent and nostalgic comedy, what allows it to truly work is the emotional edge that acts almost like a tonic, cutting through the slapstick. The film never strains for laughs and the same is true of its approach to its more serious side, lending an emotional weight to the fun (“You loved Laurel and Hardy”, Stan snaps, “but you never loved me”). The whole package is wrapped up nicely with Rolfe Kent’s jubilant score and Laurie Rose’s cinematography, full of marvellous continuous shots (the opening prologue on the set of Way Out West particularly stands out). Some may argue that Stan and Ollie is sweet to the point of saccharine, but I disagree; it’s a charming film that’s filled to the brim with joy and heart. In times where, perhaps, the negative seems to stand out, this is a breath of fresh air that reminds us of the importance of love and laughter in a quaint and purely magical way.… Expand

2 of 2 users found this helpful20

preciouskiki

Jan 26, 2019

Entertaining and enjoyable, "Stan and Ollie" is "Much more enjoyable than I expected it to be." I laughed out loud a number of times, and the story seems true to life and never treacly or heavyhanded. Loved the Hollywood and British scenery and the costumes, too. Steve Coogan and John C.Entertaining and enjoyable, "Stan and Ollie" is "Much more enjoyable than I expected it to be." I laughed out loud a number of times, and the story seems true to life and never treacly or heavyhanded. Loved the Hollywood and British scenery and the costumes, too. Steve Coogan and John C. Reilly are just perfect.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

TVJerry

Jan 31, 2019

Comedy duo Laurel & Hardy were box office giants in the 30s, but this film only begins there. It soon transitions to the '50s, when they're fame has faded and they're attempting one last tour of England. Steve Coogan and John C. Reilly not only look amazingly like the real men, theirComedy duo Laurel & Hardy were box office giants in the 30s, but this film only begins there. It soon transitions to the '50s, when they're fame has faded and they're attempting one last tour of England. Steve Coogan and John C. Reilly not only look amazingly like the real men, their "off-stage" characters are sweetly affecting. The re-creations of the classic routines is not only perfect, but shows while the originals were so funny. As the drama progresses, their relationship is challenged and this is where the film falters. While there are tender emotions, their professional and personal challenges never get sufficient gravitas to create a truly affecting drama. Still, it's a sweet treat.… Expand

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

amheretojudge

Mar 17, 2019

Two Unfitting Hats.

Stan And Ollie Baird teeters the film completely on the performance. Is it an inadequacy of the content of the script or a director so generous that he offers more room to the actor? It is a rickety chair, leant towards a productive result by the actors. For instance,Two Unfitting Hats.

Stan And Ollie

Baird teeters the film completely on the performance. Is it an inadequacy of the content of the script or a director so generous that he offers more room to the actor? It is a rickety chair, leant towards a productive result by the actors. For instance, consider a confessional encounter between Stan (Steve Coogan) and Ollie (John C. Reilly) in the last act of the film. That entire conversation has managed to grasp the essence of these two megadorms of talents, that never compromised their humor even for drama and still manages to create a heartwarming meaningful arc in their acts.

The film, just like their half an hour of acts, is simple and meticulous to the core. There is only one big scene that it all builds up for and as much as appreciative John C. Baird; the director's, approach is, there is some vital piece missing in the puzzle. And it is the tease for the game, the thirst of ours to wish for these beautifully performed actors to shook on each others term. There is real romance in their performance but no quest to make you lie at the brisk of your seat.

If Reilly is the underdog that takes pity pills in here, Coogan is morally complex and easy to absorb with his wide unblinking watery eyes. The writing is good as far as the conversations are concerned, like the way how this duo pretends to fight in front of their partners by using that same arrow that wounded them in the previous one. The screenwriter Jeff Pope has somehow created a mirror to Stephen Frears's Philomena, only this time it lacks the heavy drama that painted it bright. Stan And Ollie stages an incredible homage to its inspiration- from the vocab it adapts to the body language or structure- but, unfortunately, period.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

Lajaleaa

Aug 6, 2019

"The more I drink, the more she gets drunk."
.
( 78/100 ) . Jon S. Baird, conocido por "Filth" (2013), hizo un drama nada reconocible llamado "Cass" (2008) y luego de dirigir varios episodios en series de poco alcance presentó en el 2018 su tercer film: "Stan & Ollie". El director es de"The more I drink, the more she gets drunk."
.
( 78/100 )
.
Jon S. Baird, conocido por "Filth" (2013), hizo un drama nada reconocible llamado "Cass" (2008) y luego de dirigir varios episodios en series de poco alcance presentó en el 2018 su tercer film: "Stan & Ollie". El director es de Escocia y unió fuerzas con, Jeff Pope, un escritor y productor de TV y cine exclusivo de Inglaterra, para contar la historia de Stan Laurel y Oliver Hardy, que fueron el más famoso dúo de comedia de los 30's a los 50's.
Después de 15 años de tensión y distancia se reencuentran para revivir la fama y chispa que tuvieron en el mundo antes de que Hardy decidiera no renovar el contrato que tenía con Laurel. El plan es hacer un tour por toda Inglaterra con el cual Stan pueda persuadir a un productor de cine que lo ayude a filmar el guión que apoyará económicamente y volverá a colocarlos en la industria del entretenimiento.
La película es un trabajo de cine justo que provoca respeto por Steve Coogan y John C. Reilly, quienes demuestran una gran dinámica en la pantalla y un gran talento para dominar y saltar entre los humores que el guión muy ágilmente intercala en la narrativa. El dúo es muy preciso en su interacción y fluye junto al guión con la energía necesaria para ganarse la atención y sonrisas del público. El director también tiene mérito: son varias las escenas en donde se puede notar la fluidez, el decoro y la elegancia de la cámara, así como la sensibilidad de su visión. Muy diferente a "Filth" (2013), una comedia sucia sobre la corrupción; "Stan & Ollie" es carismática, elocuente, optimista, a veces frustrante pero siempre entretenida.
Esta historia sobre el choque de identidades y el trabajo en equipo nos enseña que mientras más duro se trabaje, más complacientes serán las recompensas, y que la fama de "Laurel And Hardy" se la deben a su ética profesional y la esencia en la personalidad del dúo que, con esfuerzo, lograron presentar a un público aplaudiendo.
-
Jon S. Baird, better known because of "Filth", made a non-recognizable drama called "Cass" (2008) and after directing some episodes in TV series with little reach, he presented in 2018 his third film: "Stan & Ollie". The director is from Scotland and he joined forces with Jeff Pope, a writer and producer of TV and cinema exclusive of England, to tell the story of Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy, who were the most famous comedy duo from the 30s to the 50s. After 15 years of tension and distance, they reunite to revive the fame and sparkle that they had in the world before Hardy decided to not renovate the contract that he had with Laurel. The plan is to make a tour across all England with which Stan can persuade a cinema producer who can help him film the script that will help them economically and put them in the entertainment industry again. The movie is a fair cinema work that creates respect for Steve Coogan and John C. Reilly, who show a great dynamic in the screen and talent to dominate and jump from humor to humor that the scrip skillfully inserts in the narrative. The duo is very precise in their interaction and flows along the script with enough energy to win over the attention and smiles of the public. The director also has merit: in several scenes can be noticed the fluency, the decorum, and elegance of the camera, as well the sensibility of his vision. Very different from "Filth" (2013), a dirty comedy about corruption; "Stan & Ollie" is charismatic, eloquent, optimistic, sometimes frustrating but always entertaining.
This story about the clash of identities and teamwork teach us about how the harder the work, the pleasant can rewards be; and that the fame of Laurel And Hardy it's owned to their professional ethics and the essence of the duo personality that, with a lot of effort, achieved to show in front of a clapping public.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

GreatMartin

Jan 18, 2019

While there are a few good things about "Stan & Ollie" there are too many negatives to make it worthwhile seeing.

John C. Reilly as Oliver Hardy and Steve Coogan as Stan Laurel were a top comedy duo in the 1930s and by 1950 were barely making a living. Both actors are excellent in theirWhile there are a few good things about "Stan & Ollie" there are too many negatives to make it worthwhile seeing.

John C. Reilly as Oliver Hardy and Steve Coogan as Stan Laurel were a top comedy duo in the 1930s and by 1950 were barely making a living. Both actors are excellent in their roles though, sometimes, Reilly's prosthetics go astray. Most people, under 50, probably won't be familiar with these comedians and their routines might provide puzzlement as to why they were so famous even to the older folks in today's audience.

As a film about two comedians, it is more of a drama than a comedy, telling the story of their lives in the 1950s doing a tour in England to almost empty theatres and hoping to make a movie that might never be made.

Shirley Henderson as Lucille Hardy has a very hard to hear, and understand, accent while Nina Arianda as Laurel's Russian born wife Ida seems to get the most, what there are of them, laughs in the film and the two women are more of a comic team than their husbands.

In the 1940s Abott and Costello were more popular while they, in turn, would soon be surpassed by Martin and Lewis.

"Stan & Ollie" has 3-4 laughs and near the end a few tears but all in all it does nothing for them putting the spotlight on the team and really doesn't entertain the audience.… Expand

2 of 5 users found this helpful23

SEE ALL 30 REVIEWS