Laughter - Stooges Style

This is atypical of this blog but I’m going to start with a movie review.  I haven’t been to a movie theater for several years.  I’m usually disappointed that the best scenes were in the trailer, plus it kills me to pay $10 for popcorn and a Coke.  Today, with good reason, I broke my streak of avoiding movie theaters to see the new Three Stooges movie, on opening day, no less.  It was hilarious.

They successfully retained an element of the stupid, physical comedy and sound effects of the original Three Stooges, yet they made it current with a few Hollywood A-list actors like Jane Lynch, Larry David, Jennifer Hudson, Sofia Vergara, Sean Hayes, Isaiah Mustafa, Stephen Collins, Brian Doyle-Murray, and the cast of Jersey Shore.  My favorite line was when the entire cast was at a party and the Three Stooges arrived; one of the party guests mentioned the “three morons”, and the response was “The Kardashian sisters are here?”

Here’s the sad thing.  There was only one other person in the theater, and he left before the outtakes and song and dance after the credits.  Why on earth would people rather see Hunger Games or Titanic (again)?  The younger demographic seems to have a hunger for violence and dark themes.

Movies and television have a powerful influence on the mind, especially at a young age. I find myself shaking my head at the quality and content of not only the movies and TV programs but also the ads.  So much sex and violence and celebrity worship.  Realizing now how much Captain Kangaroo and Andy Griffith influenced my youth, I can’t help but worry about the future of kids who are being influenced by what they see on TV and movies today. I can’t even recall the most serious or violent movie I saw as a kid or teen.

My critics and commenters may be quick to point out that the Three Stooges were quite violent – all that eye-poking and slapping.  It’s apples and oranges, not the same thing.  And at the end of the movie, the Farrelly Brothers (directors) actually show the rubber props used to boink the stooges in the head, and they make a statement that this should not be done at home with real objects.

In an article in care2.com, Melissa Breyer lists the long term health benefits of laughter.

• Lower blood pressure
• Increase vascular blood flow and oxygenation of the blood
• Give a workout to the diaphragm and abdominal, respiratory, facial, leg, and back muscles
• Reduce certain stress hormones such as cortisol and adrenaline
• Increase the response of tumor- and disease-killing cells such as Gamma-interferon and T-cells
• Defend against respiratory infections–even reducing the frequency of colds–by immunoglobulon in saliva.
• Increase memory and learning; in a study at Johns Hopkins University Medical School, humor during instruction led to increased test scores

• Improve alertness, creativity, and memory

Do yourself a favor and go see the Three Stooges this weekend, or any laugh-out-loud comedy.  You won’t even complain about the cost of the ticket or the popcorn and coke.

Life is too short to be so serious.

By Annie