Laurel & Hardy are two of the finest double acts ever. This tells the story of their visit to the UK in the latter stages of their careers when the golden era is long gone. Steve Coogan plays Stan Laurel & John C. Reilly plays Oliver Hardy and I really like Coogan and have mixed feelings about Reilly although his recent outing in Kong: Skull Island shows he can still deliver a solid performance. The story moves to 1953 in Newcastle however where they shot this is in Dudley where I live so it was the rare instance where I was taken out of the location filming. That’s not a criticism that most people are going to have because they have never been there or will go there but it was one of two times I spotted areas of The Black Country Living Museum and it was fun to see.
Like Laurel & Hardy, Steve Coogan & John C. Reilly have very good chemistry together. Despite being a big fan of Alan Partridge and thinking that this is his best ever role, I enjoyed Coogan as Stan Laurel. He brings out the creativity of Stan and how he was in a way the brains of the team. John C. Reilly is under impressive prosthetics that makes Hardy warm and physically fragile. Both Coogan and Reilly look like Laurel & Hardy and along with their mannerisms you totally buy into the fact that these aren't impressions but performances that feel like they are paying homage to the real people.
The attention to detail and nods to their greatest hits is quite good. The recreation of their dance in Way Out West is impressive and that's within the first few minutes of the film. Then there is a nod to The Music Box where they are moving a trunk up the train station steps and it falls to the bottom. There are plenty more there but I would be here forever but they are done in such a way that will please people who have seen the films and not be left out of funny moments. You are left to enjoy them and appreciate them which is the balance that the whole film took and got right.
As you would expect from a film that takes place during their final years, there is a hint of sadness. They aren't the Laurel & Hardy from their heyday and when they have their truthful discussion it was one of the more sad moments of a film that is generally filled with a lot of humour. Sadly the final part of the film has Hardy’s health deteriorating and even though they plough on and go to Ireland, there is always a hint of sadness with their performance.
I really enjoyed this film. Yes there is a lot of sadness but one thing that gets you through is the lovely heartfelt performances from Coogan and Reilly. The attention to detail is really impressive and the film looks stunning. I think if you are a Laurel & Hardy fan then you should go and see it but even if like me you haven't really seen any of their work then it is still worth your time because it's great to see this story told.
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