In case you haven't seen it yet, be sure to check out my exclusive interview with the Farrelly Brothers, in which I grilled them about three of my all-time favorite people: Moe, Larry and Curly.
Over the years, their proposed "Three Stooges" movie has flirted with such Moe candidates as Jim Carrey, Benicio Del Toro and Russell Crowe. Most of the rumors surrounding porcupine-head Larry have featured veteran actor David Paymer (for obvious reasons), along with Rob Corddry. Finally, there's the pivotal casting of Curly, with nyuck-nyucking candidates rumored to include Jack Black and David Koechner.
As someone who can recite every verse of Swinging the Alphabet (and after a few drinks, often does), my first thought is that the Stooges need to be unknowns. Peter and Bobby should begin traveling the world, searching for funnymen who not only resemble the Stooges, but possess the same perfect timing, infantile mindset, and overriding love of laughter that fueled Howard, Fine and Howard.
If that fails, I'd love to see either Patton Oswalt or Will Arnett as Moe. Both are hilarious, and their acts similarly hinge on crankiness and general displeasure with the fools that surround them. Supposedly, the Farrellys want a "real actor" like Crowe, but I think they're overlooking three key factors: Moe intimidated the other Stooges, but not normal people; Moe Howard possessed the skills of a comedian; and all Three Stooges need to be approximately the same size, or else their slapping and eye-poking doesn't line up right.
For Larry, I've always thought Paymer or "Perfect Strangers" star Mark-Linn Baker would have been perfect. But since they're both too old now, I'd pair the 5'11' Seth Rogen with Arnett, or maybe the 5'8" Jonah Hill alongside Oswalt.
Finally, Curly doesn't necessarily require a bald actor, since Jerome Howard himself didn't shave his head until his audition. I'd pay $10 to watch Jack Black give it a shot - and the chrome dome would help him reinvent what's becoming an increasingly stale persona. He'd be the right height to slide in alongside Hill and Oswalt; for my taller Stooges squad, I'd grab Broken Lizard veteran Kevin Heffernan. Pencil him in alongside Rogen and Arnett, and I can see potential for comedic brilliance.
Those are the best guesses from this Stooges fan - what do you guys think? Don't be a victim of soicamstance - weigh in with your casting choices below!
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