Steve Coogan has catapulted himself into a different class in this film, John C Riley, well you kind of expect and he never disappoints, solid and dependable. With such distinguished and recognisable cast, you kind of expect to see the familiar characters of the actors themselves playing parts that you cannot suspend disbelief. Clint Eastwood for example, you see a Clint Eastwood film, you have no idea who he's playing, it's just Clint Eastwood. But here, Steve Coogan disappears from the screen and becomes Stan Laurel, you are aware there are some slight physical appearance which make you know it's not quite right, but you are not seeing Steve Coogan, that's for sure. The film is engaging, enlightening into the real people that existed behind the alter egos of Laurel and Hardy, and is a beautiful dip into their personal relationship without portraying any dirty dark revelations that a sensationalist may be tempted to put into a film. Instead it remains for the most, a journey you take with the boys, and their struggle to remain relevant in a fast changing world after some not so good decisions in hindsight, and decisions which were presented well enough for you to subscribe to the reasoning of each possibility and probably make the same mistakes yourself. What im trying to say is that some films will present such bad career decisions as painfully obvious to the viewer, but this film left you taking both sides with equal validity.

But most of all, the film presents their deep and loving friendship. I wept, I wiped the tears and weaped some more. The kind of tear when you are simply moved by such genuine love. The film seemed to be over too quickly, I could've stayed another hour and half. Well done all concerned.

Now this, this is award winning stuff.

Stan & Ollie: In 1953 when Laurel and Hardy arrived in Cobh to begin their tour of Ireland and Britain they were overwhelmed by the reception they received: hundreds of boats blew whistles and foghorns, thousands lined the docks, the bells of St Colman's Cathedral played the Laurel and Hardy theme, The Cuckoo Song. This film has the duo arriving in Britain first where things were not quite as bright, early performances had poor attendances and they had resort to publicity stunts to whip up attention. The once famous act was down in the world and they stayed in third rate hotels until the houses improved but ended up in the Savoy Hotel by the time they arrived in London.

This is the story of an act in it's twilight tears, when Hardy's (John C. Reilly) health and gambling problems was taking a toll on the partnership. But Laurel's (Steve Coogan) is unable to accept that the glory days are over and continues with the forlorn hope of making a new film, he also holds a grudge against Hardy stretching back sixteen years. Flashbacks to 1937 when they were at the peak of their fame show Laurel's impatience to make independent films and Hardy'd need for a regular income leading to decisions, Hardy went on to make a film without Laurel as he was still under contract.

Great performances by Reilly and Coogan aided and abetted by Shirley Henderson as Lucy Hardy and Nina Arianda as Ida Kitaeva Laurel, with a great turn by Rufus Jones as Bernard Delfont, as their sleazy English agent. Director Jon S. Baird with a screenplay by Jeff Pope delivers a poignant memoir of a short period in the sunset days of Stan and Laurel with some great set-pieces double act's favourite routines. Including of course On The Trail Of tHe Lonesome Pine. 8.5/10.

Any film that can make me cry deserves at least 8 out of 10.