Screening: Three Stooges, Bully and Lockout | News

Two movies that deal with bullying hit theaters this week, and they couldn’t be more different.

THE THREE STOOGES (PG)

One is “The Three Stooges,” a reboot of the famed slapstick trio as filtered through the sensibilities of the Farrelly Brothers, the guys behind “There’s Something About Mary” and “Dumb and Dumber.”

Sean Hayes, Chris Diamantopoulos and Will Sasso star as Larry, Moe and Curly, and the actors do a commendable job of resurrecting the patented violent anarchy that the original threesome achieved.

This isn’t a biopic. It’s face-slapping, eye-gouging comedy that shows what would happen if the stooges were running amuck in contemporary America. Larry David from TV’s “Curb Your Enthusiasm” and Jane Lynch from “Glee” play the nuns to raised the boys at an orphanage.

Through a series of coincidences, the boys wind up on a reality TV show with the cast of “Jersey Shore.” Depending on your point of view, that’s either inspired or scary.

If you go in with low expectations and an appreciation for goofy, physical humor, then “The Three Stooges” is good for some shameless laughs.

RUSS: 3 Popcorn Bags.

BULLY (PG-13)

There’s nothing funny, however, about “Bully.” This heartbreaking and controversial documentary chronicles the lives of a handful of young people who are tormented by their schoolmates.

While it serves as a disturbing look at the torture some kids endure on a daily basis, it’s also an exposé about the indifference and ineptitude of adults in positions of authority who often fail to stop it.

While the film making is sometimes unfocused and rambling, it’s the timely subject matter that makes “Bully” an important movie. It’s earnest and eye-opening, and the individual stories are poignant.

RUSS: 4 Popcorn Bags

LOCKOUT (PG-13)

“Lockout” wants desperately to be “Die Hard in Space.” Guy Pearce and Maggie Grace star in this silly futuristic sci-fi flick about a government agent sent to save the president’s daughter, who happens to be in the middle of a breakout on an orbiting space prison. Pearce tries hard to save Grace, but there’s nothing he can do to save the script.

“Lockout” should be rated “G”…for “generic.”

RUSS: 2 Popcorn Bags.

Also opening this week:

-“The Cabin in the Woods” is a horror film with a twist from fanboy favorite Josh Whedon.

-“The Kid With a Bike” is a French drama that was a prizewinner at the Cannes Film Festival.

-“Delicacy” is a French romance starring Audrey Tautou.

-“The Raid: Redemption” is a violent action flick from Indonesia.

-The Kansas City FilmFest runs through Sunday, April 15^th, and more info is available at kcfilmfest.org.

-The German Film Festival runs through April 19^th and features some great titles. More information is available at kansascityglobal.org.