Stan & Ollie review roundup: What are the critics saying about Laurel and Hardy film?

Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy became Hollywood comedic legends in the early 20th century and remain the defining duo of slapstick humour. Now a new film, starring Steve Coogan as Laurel and John C Reilly as Hardy, plays tribute to their genius. Stan & Ollie sheds light on what happened after their career faltered and the pair set out to win back audiences with a 1953 tour of the UK and Ireland.

The biopic, directed by Jon S Baird, will be released nationwide in the UK on January 11 after debuting at the BFI London Film Festival in October.

Here is what the critics had to say.

Stan & Ollie reviews roundup:

Critics have been overwhelmingly positive about Stan & Ollie, in particular, the lead actors’ performances.

The film currently holds an approval rating of 92 percent on Rotten Tomatoes based on 71 reviews.

It has a Metascore rating of 76 based on 26 reviews.

Olly Richards of Empire said: “Coogan and Reilly’s performances are among the best either has ever given. This film, which pays wonderfully funny tribute to two comic legends, richly deserves them.”

Writing for the Los Angeles Times, Gary Goldstein said: “Propelled by lovely, engaging writing and wonderful performances, Stan & Ollie, the story of the bittersweet final bow of legendary duo Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy, should move and delight fans of the beloved performers while enjoyably exposing the less initiated to these comedy giants.”

The Guardian’s Peter Bradshaw wrote: “These are brilliant impersonations, the kind that can only be achieved by exceptionally intelligent actors; the superb technique of both is matched by their obvious love for the originals.”

Jason Zinoman of The New York Times praised Coogan and O’Reilly’s “dynamite performances” that captured their characters’ movements “ without ever descending into caricature”.

He added: “They never strain for laughs but are consistently amusing. As Laurel, who wrote the comic bits and was the more tortured star, Coogan communicates a tremendous amount of anxiety and discord in a slight downturn of the lips.

“Equally subtle and emotionally grounded, Reilly portrays Hardy as a big man with a light touch, so laid-back so as to be almost reckless.”

Writing for Time Out, Phil de Semlyen, praised the pair’s leading ladies.

“There are also juicy supporting roles for Shirley Henderson and Midnight in Paris’s Nina Arianda as the comedians’ long-suffering wives, Lucille and Ida. The film may be called Stan & Ollie, but it’s never more alive than when the four of them are onscreen.”

Matt Glassy of Total Film said: “Gently joyous, from soup to nuts. Take your grandparents and they’ll enjoy it as much as you.”

However, not everyone was as impressed – Variety’s Guy Lodge said the movie was not without fault.

He wrote: “The film’s confidence falters only when it transposes the hapless slapstick of the duo’s screen act to their everyday reality.

“If a couple of labored gags around hauling luggage don’t fully land, that rather proves how much more art went into Laurel and Hardy’s craft than they ever chose to let on.”

Stan & Ollie is out in UK cinemas on January 11.