The Three Stooges, the latest Farrelly brothers movie, against all odds, had me laughing as hard as I can remember. I still can’t comprehend how the three knucklehead brothers translate wonderfully into the 21st century, but they definitely do.

The casting choices were impeccable and reminded me what a great sense of humor the Farrelly’s have. All of the three stooges’ different-aged versions are consistent and prevailed in making me forget there even were originals. Larry David plays Sister Mary-Mengele, in what I think is the most believable and endearing depiction of a nun since Debbie Reynolds sang in a habit. He serves as a holy terror in the three Stooges lives, and as consequence he gets knocked around, which is what everyone wants to see happen to Larry David anyway. The fact that he’s wearing a dress is a bonus.

You can’t go wanting a clever story–but there’s plenty of orphan ridicule, and Craig Bierko steps on Sofia Vergara’s boobs at one point, so there’s plenty to amuse you. The three Stooges have grown up in an orphanage for all 35 years of their lives. One day they learn that it will be closed down unless someone comes up with almost a million dollars at the end of the month, so they go off looking for fortune to save everyone. Their gospel sendoff from Sister Rosemary (Jennifer Hudson) is one of the only times Hudson looks like she realizes her purpose in the film. But even though that kind of stuff is normally annoying and reduces the worth of a movie, here, it only makes it funnier. I seriously don’t know what happened but this movie is good from start to finish.

Of course our bumbling brothers find a way to make quick cash, which will eventually lead to Bierko’s boob-stepping. Poor Sofia Vergara’s punishment for being so hot is to play a a gold digger who wears tight sweaters. Hers and Bierko’s evil-people is slapstick at its best. Somehow the perfect balance is struck, and throughout all the coincidences and simplicity of a Stooges plot, nothing ever goes too far over the top or gets exhausting. Each section of the movie falls into episodes that really helps with the pacing, too. It felt quick as a flash, and even the Jersey Shore cast comes out looking relatively sharp. watch The Three Stooges.

I am still bewildered by it, enjoying this movie has inspired me to visit again the original material. It’s making me laugh just as much. watch new movies