Stan & Ollie

Critics Consensus

Stan & Ollie pays tribute to a pair of beloved entertainers with an affectionate look behind the scenes -- and a moving look at the burdens and blessings of a creative bond.

93%

TOMATOMETER

Total Count: 204

85%

Audience Score

User Ratings: 1,783
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Movie Info

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 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.

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Cast

Steve Coogan
as Stan Laurel
John C. Reilly
as Oliver Hardy
Nina Arianda
as Ida Kitaeva Laurel
Shirley Henderson
as Lucille Hardy
Danny Huston
as Hal Roach
Rufus Jones
as Bernard Delfont
Susy Kane
as Cynthia Clark
Ella Kenion
as Holiday Camp Organizer
Harry Hepple
as Wally Brady
Bentley Kalu
as Elephant Wrangler
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Critic Reviews for Stan & Ollie

All Critics (204) | Top Critics (40) | Fresh (189) | Rotten (15)

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Audience Reviews for Stan & Ollie

  • Mar 31, 2019
    The two actors (especially Coogan) are fantastic, embodying their characters so faithfully that it seems like they have been playing them together forever, and it is great to see how this film pays homage to those comedy legends with a balanced combination of slapstick and melancholy.
    Carlos M Super Reviewer
  • Mar 19, 2019
    Steve Coogan and John C. Reilly do competent work bringing two old friends back to memory while re-enacting a couple of their more famous routines. This BBC production highlight is in its restraint, delivering a melancholy postcard, as it were, from the old team, and sort of a final farewell, wrapped in the fact that London proved their final performance together. One especially nice touch is in how the two clowns lean on their practised routines when not exactly on the stage or in front of a camera. Recommended.
    Kevin M. W Super Reviewer
  • Feb 04, 2019
    A touching and sweet story of two friends who through good times and bad times in their careers, really cared bout and loved each other. Coogan and Reilly light up the screen as Laurel and Hardy and you forget they are acting. Henderson and Arianda are also very good as their wives. A true treat for fans of the comedy duo! 01-29-2019
    Christopher O Super Reviewer
  • Feb 01, 2019
    This sweetly nostalgic film looks back at the friendly and fractious relationship between classic comedy partners Stan Laurel (Steve Coogan) and Oliver Hardy (John C. Reilly), the top comedy duo for decades. Flash forward to 1957 and they're older and touring England to regain enough relevancy to scrap together a movie deal. It's a delight to watch both actors just perform as the famous comedians and they cannily turn any opportunity into a recitation of a physical comedy bit. At its heart, the film is about the close relationship of the two men, what pushed them apart, and what brings them back together. It's a very undemanding movie that is very nice, populated with nice people doing nice things for one another, bowled over by the sincere power of humor. Coogan and Reilly (in a very big fat suit) give honest performances rather than impressions. I never knew Laurel was so instrumental in developing their material, and he continued writing Laurel and Hardy material long after his partner died. The movie glides along on its good feelings and historical recreations, settling into a nostalgic sweet spot that isn't too far into maudlin but interesting enough to justify the trip. If you're a fan of Old Hollywood magic and Laurel and Hardy, then Stan & Ollie is a dream. Nate's Grade: B
    Nate Z Super Reviewer
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