Movie Review: Stoogemania (1985)
Synopsis: Howard F. Howard grew up loving the Three Stooges and now, as an adult, his obsession has grown into something unhealthy, with him envisioning clips from their films everywhere he looks, costing him his job and putting his relationship with Beverly on the rocks. As he seeks help, he learns he isn't alone with his obsession and it is becoming an epidemic.
Who's in it? The movies stars Josh Mostel, Melanie Chartoff, Sid Caesar, Victoria Jackson and the Three Stooges.
Review: When I came across Stoogemania last night, my oldest daughter and I thought the same thing, it would just be a Three Stooges clip show. However, after not finding anything that was a must-watch film for this morning, I decided to give this movie a try. As it turns out, it wasn't quite the clip show I was expecting it to be, but I'm not convinced that was a good thing.
I'll give the movie some props, it is certainly unique. Howard's (Mostel) obsession puts him in some interesting and Stooge-like situations, and I did like how the movie was able to combine some classic Three Stooges bits and make them fit in with what he was doing, at least most of the time (more on this in a second).
I think the main problem with this film is it was trying to be too funny. It's just my opinion, but I honestly believe this concept would have worked considerably better had the main story taken more of a serious tone and the film let the Three Stooges provide the bulk of the comedy. As it stood, it was a lot of overkill, whether it was Howard putting popcorn in his coffee maker or his psychiatrist (Caesar) being too obsessed with his nurse (Jackson). I'm not saying some of those things weren't funny, it's just even the best comedies know when it is time to be serious.
Another thing I noticed is the film wasn't consistent with the Three Stooges content. Sometimes it was applicable, such as a laundry clip when Howard was working at a dry cleaner. Other times, like when he was remembering a movie clip about the Stooges giving a music lesson when he was in the psychiatrist office, seemed out of place and more random. In other words, it should have picked a lane.
The film's ending was, at best, OK. It did bring closure, at least somewhat. However, it also was very predictable, and I would have liked to see something that offered a bit more of a surprise.
Final Opinion: The idea isn't a bad one and I do love the Three Stooges. However, I think the film would have been better had the non-Stooge comedy been toned down a bit (and, in the case of the popcorn incident, been a bit more realistic) with a bit more consistency about when and why he was seeing the Stooges. I didn't hate it, but I also didn't love it.
My Grade: C
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Here are some reviews of other 1980s comedies:
Movie Review: Stir Crazy (1980)
Movie Review: Back to School (1986)
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