《三个臭皮匠》

There is an attractive spirit to "The Three Stooges*." To fully appreciate this paean* to silly nonsense simply requires that cynicism* be shelved and the thinking side of the brain shut down.

Starring Sean Hayes, Will Sasso and Chris Diamantopoulos as Larry, Curly and Moe, this update is a love letter to the "Stooges" from the filmmaking Farrelly brothers, Peter and Bobby. Though they may be best known for the R-rated "There's Something About Mary."

Though set in present day, everything about the film feels as if it was plucked* out of the 1940s, the heyday* of the comic shorts that would connect the Stooges in history, including the clothes, with Curly's always too short and too tight.

The film itself is constructed to echo* the shorts format, with its three acts unfolding* as three clearly marked episodes*, all tied to the orphanage* where they are dropped off as babies. Before the last slap and the final "Nyaaaaaahhhhh," there will be an adoption* to bungle*, an orphanage to destroy and save, a beauty (Sofia Vergara) to distract* them, a murder to consider and a brief run at fame.

The action begins when three stooges *****- one bald*, one with a bowl haircut, and one with a receding* hairline surrounded by frizzy* red curls *****- are tossed* on the steps of the orphanage.

In keeping with the 1940s feel, it is a happy place run by good-hearted nuns*, with Jane Lynch as the long-suffering and ever forgiving Mother Superior, keeping her cynicism completely in check.

Jennifer Hudson is Sister Rosemary and seems primarily there to periodically* break out in song, which the movie does when it feels like it. And best of all is a scene-stealing Larry David as Sister Mary-Mengele, who has never met a moment that did not offer some irritant* to be squashed*.

The guys may be babies, but their DNA makes it clear they are already stooges, with an eye poke* that sends Sister Mary-Mengele flying. From that point on, the eye-poking and the eye-rolling never stop. As the boys grow up, the head slaps and the rest of the highly hitting mayhem* that characterizes all the stooges interactions becomes the core of the movie.

The success of the film hangs on pulling off the sight gags*, with the Farrellys' getting the rhythm* of a "Stooges" bit *****- basically action, bad reaction, then over-reaction *****- mostly right. (SD-Agencies)