Stan & Ollie

★★★★

Dir: Jon S. Baird

Starring: Steve Coogan, John C. Reilly

PG 97m

It would be easy for any actor to fall into clichéd impersonation mode when asked to take on the mantle of an entertainment icon. It’s to the credit of both Steve Coogan and John C. Reilly that they manage to avoid these pitfalls and instead deliver rich and fully rounded characterisations of their well-known subjects. Stan & Ollie begins in 1953 with the comedy legends at the tail-end of their careers. They’ve been together for 26 years and made more than 100 films, yet they’re still looking out for that next big movie script as they embark on a music hall tour of Britain and Ireland. Their health isn’t great and their bank balances are none too healthy either (alimony payments, child support, bad investments) as they tramp up and down the north of England playing to half-full theatres. By the end of the tour, however, the trip turned into something of a triumph, culminating in the duo sailing into Cobh harbour to a heroes’ welcome as the local church bells chimed out their famous theme song, Dance of the Cuckoos.

For this moving story, penned by Jeff Pope ( Philomena), Coogan (Laurel) and Reilly (Hardy) have perfected the classic mannerisms of their subjects and learned all the routines (even leaving in a mistake that appeared in the famous dance routine of Way Out West). More importantly, they channel the deep-seated bond that existed between this slim funnyman from the north of England and this portly Southern gent with the strong singing voice and the peerless withering gaze. The relationship between Laurel and Hardy is what make that iconic duo so irresistible; likewise the chemistry between Coogan and Reilly is what makes Stan & Ollie so enjoyable. Now where’s my copy of Sons of the Desert?