Quartile rating: 6/10 · 1 rating
Left on the doorstep of an orphanage run by nuns, three newborn knuckleheads grow up to be finger-poking, nyuk-nyuking janitors named Larry, Curly and Moe. When they learn that financial problems will soon force the only home they've ever known to close, the trio sets out to raise $830,000 in one month. Out in the world for the very first time, the three innocent bumblers become embroiled in a murder plot and find stardom on a TV reality show.
The Farrelly Brothers' attempt to resurrect the Three Stooges brand is affectionate but largely hollow. The plot is a thin, episodic excuse to string together slapstick gags, and the murder subplot feels grafted on awkwardly. The three leads — Will Sasso, Chris Diamantopoulos, and Sean Hayes — admirably commit to their physical performances and vocal mannerisms, earning some credit for the sheer effort of mimicry. Visually, the film is flat and televisual, offering nothing of cinematographic interest. Novelty is low: while the original Stooges were revolutionary, this is a fairly straightforward revival act with a modern reality-TV wrapper that feels dated rather than inspired. The ending resolves predictably with the orphanage saved, offering no surprises. A mildly amusing nostalgia exercise that struggles to justify its existence.