Stan & Ollie

After a night of work, I ended up with the day off.  After a nap and a shower, I decided to head out into the sun and have a walk around.   There was just enough time after doing the jobs that needed to be done to head to the cinema to watch Stan & Ollie, a movie about movie legends Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy.  Movie stars of the 20s and 30s we meet the pair at the height of their popularity in 1937 where the pair are trying to decide if they should break the contract for their movie work and ask for a raise and the right to their work, which was popular worldwide and that neither received any payment for.

15 years later we meet the pair as they begin a tour of England and Ireland, playing live to small audiences at small halls.  After years together their friendship is tested and we get to see the real relationship.  Both actors do a great job in this movie, but I must say hats off to John C. Reilly playing Oliver Hardy, as he must have had to endure hours of makeup and prosthetic application to play the large actor whereas Steve Coogan must have had only to have a little hair cream applied to be ready for each days work. 

While interesting to see their private lives play out, I  didn't come away loving this movie and didn't feel a great connection to it.  I can see that it will end up as a Sunday evening art type film to be played for the 60+ audience, ones who will know the names and may remember seeing their movies replayed in the 60s and 70s.  4/5