--- title: "Stan & Ollie: the reviews" canonical: "https://film.one/film/stan-and-ollie/reviews" title_page: "https://film.one/film/stan-and-ollie" critics_score: 73 critics_reviews: 26 licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL." --- # Stan & Ollie (2018): what the critics said Critics' score 73 from 26 reviews: 17 positive, 8 mixed, 1 negative. Most critics find Stan & Ollie an affectionate, moving portrait of a working friendship, with praise concentrated on Steve Coogan and John C. Reilly. Their recreations of Laurel and Hardy’s routines impress, but the tenderness between performances matters just as much to the warmer reviews. Shirley Henderson and Nina Arianda also earn praise for giving the wives character and comic bite. The prevailing view is that the acting makes a familiar biographical story worth watching. The spread is wide, with sentiment and dramatic restraint dividing the reviews. Admirers find the film touching without becoming sugary; others consider it genteel, predictable or short of insight. IndieWire praises the leads but finds the story sentimental and forgettable. Little White Lies offers the clearest dissent from the praise for the central pairing, arguing that the impersonations miss the duo’s comic chemistry and finding the wives more rewarding company. ## Evening Standard — Matthew Norman Rating 5/5. 13 January 2019. Norman calls the biopic glorious and praises its affectionate, moving portrayal of Laurel and Hardy. He singles out Steve Coogan and John C. Reilly for remarkably convincing performances. [Read the review](https://www.standard.co.uk/culture/film/stan-ollie-review-well-heres-a-rather-fine-film-youve-gotten-us-into-a4036186.html) ## Radio Times — Andrew Collins Rating 5/5. The review is strongly positive about the affectionate, precise direction. It especially praises the opening tracking shot capturing the duo at the height of their fame. [Read the review](https://www.radiotimes.com/movie-guide/b-3x9pqt/stan-ollie/) ## Empire — Olly Richards Fi1m's normalised score 85/100 (inferred from the text). 7 January 2019. Richards finds the film a warm, funny tribute to Laurel and Hardy that celebrates them without idealizing them. He especially praises Coogan and Reilly’s performances and their pitch-perfect onstage impressions. [Read the review](https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/stan-ollie-review/) ## Los Angeles Times — Gary Goldstein Fi1m's normalised score 85/100 (inferred from the text). 27 December 2018. Goldstein finds the film moving and delightful, praising its writing and performances. He especially singles out Coogan and Reilly’s affectionate portrayals and their sharp comic timing. [Read the review](https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/movies/la-et-mn-stan-and-ollie-review-20181227-story.html) ## Time Out — Phil de Semlyen Rating 4/5. 4 January 2019. The review calls the biopic a delight. It singles out Steve Coogan’s inspired performance as Laurel and Hardy’s classic comedy partnership is brought to life. [Read the review](https://www.timeout.com/movies/stan-ollie) ## Total Film — Matt Glasby Rating 4/5. 24 December 2018. Glasby finds the film gently joyous and emotionally affecting. He praises Coogan and Reilly’s performances and their beautifully played comic routines. [Read the review](https://www.gamesradar.com/stan-and-ollie-review/) ## IndieWire — Eric Kohn Rating B. 21 October 2018. Kohn finds the film agreeable but forgettable, with a sentimental story that lacks ingenuity. He praises the convincing performances by John C. Reilly and Steve Coogan as Laurel and Hardy. [Read the review](https://www.indiewire.com/features/general/stan-ollie-review-john-c-reilly-steve-coogan-1202013836/) ## Variety — Guy Lodge Fi1m's normalised score 76/100 (inferred from the text). 21 October 2018. Festival review. Lodge finds the film a moving, affectionate, and quietly engaging tribute, though its everyday slapstick occasionally falters. He especially praises Reilly and Coogan’s performances and the lively chemistry between the supporting cast. [Read the review](https://variety.com/2018/film/reviews/london-film-review-stan-ollie-1202987632/) ## Sight and Sound — BFI Fi1m's normalised score 75/100 (inferred from the text). 11 January 2019. The critic finds it a wistful, perfectly judged tribute to friendship and the restorative power of laughter. They praise Coogan and Reilly’s performances, especially their convincing recreations of Laurel and Hardy’s routines. [Read the review](https://www.bfi.org.uk/sight-and-sound/reviews/stan-ollie-review-steve-coogan-john-c-reilly-rekindle-limelight) ## The Hollywood Reporter — Todd McCarthy Fi1m's normalised score 75/100 (inferred from the text). 21 October 2018. Festival review. McCarthy finds the film warm, sincere and sweet, though its pleasures are simple and it only occasionally provokes big laughs. He especially praises Coogan and Reilly’s convincing performances and recreation of Laurel and Hardy’s comic routines. [Read the review](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-reviews/stan-ollie-review-1153668/) ## Vulture — Emily Yoshida Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 26 December 2018. Yoshida finds the film synthetic and overly sunny, but ultimately sweet and moving about a long-term working relationship. She especially praises the sympathetic, spiky relationship between Laurel and Hardy’s wives, played by Nina Arianda and Shirley Henderson. [Read the review](https://www.vulture.com/2018/12/stan-and-ollie-review.html) ## The Guardian — Peter Bradshaw Fi1m's normalised score 65/100 (inferred from the text). 21 October 2018. Festival review. Bradshaw finds the film sweet and sad, with a muted charm, though occasionally underpowered and genteel. He especially praises Coogan and Reilly’s brilliant, closely observed impersonations of Laurel and Hardy. [Read the review](https://www.theguardian.com/film/2018/oct/21/stan-and-ollie-review-laurel-and-hardy-steve-coogan-john-c-reilly) ## Screen Daily — Demetrios Matheou Fi1m's normalised score 64/100 (inferred from the text). 21 October 2018. The review’s verdict cannot be determined because the article body is hidden behind a paywall. No specific element of praise or complaint is visible in the available text. [Read the review](https://www.screendaily.com/reviews/stan-and-ollie-london-review/5133807.article) ## The New York Times Fi1m's normalised score 64/100 (inferred from the text). 27 December 2018. The page is inaccessible, so its verdict cannot be confirmed. No praise or complaint from the critic is available to identify. [Read the review](https://www.nytimes.com/2018/12/27/movies/stan-and-ollie-review.html) ## The AV Club — Mike D'Angelo Rating C+. 19 December 2018. The critic finds the film watchable but unexceptional, with little new insight into Laurel and Hardy’s difficulties. Reilly and Coogan’s performances, especially their recreation of the duo’s comedy routines, are singled out as its main attraction. [Read the review](https://www.avclub.com/reilly-coogan-make-a-good-laurel-hardy-in-the-other-1831204151) ## Slant Magazine — Chuck Bowen Rating 2.5/4. 14 November 2018. Bowen finds the film’s restraint both a strength and a liability, leaving its portrait of Laurel and Hardy’s decline dramatically limited. He praises the graceful, finely balanced performances of Steve Coogan and John C. Reilly, especially their portrayal of the pair’s devoted friendship. [Read the review](https://www.slantmagazine.com/film/stan-and-ollie/) ## The New Yorker — Anthony Lane Fi1m's normalised score 45/100 (inferred from the text). 28 December 2018. Lane finds the film’s twilight portrait of Laurel and Hardy thin and unable to uncover much beneath their partnership’s familiar appeal. He praises Coogan and Reilly’s careful, affecting performances, especially Reilly’s expressive sighs and grunts. [Read the review](https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2019/01/07/stan-and-ollie-explores-the-slapstick-pairs-plaintive-dusk) ## Little White Lies — David Jenkins Rating 3/2/2. 21 October 2018. Jenkins finds the biopic unfunny and argues its impersonations fail to capture Laurel and Hardy’s comic chemistry. He praises Shirley Henderson and Nina Arianda, whose performances as the wives are the film’s strongest elements. [Read the review](https://lwlies.com/reviews/stan-and-ollie) ## Film Stories — Charlotte Harrison Fi1m's normalised score 90/100 (inferred from the text). 17 January 2019. Harrison finds the film insightful, beautiful and moving without becoming saccharine. She especially praises Coogan and Reilly’s performances and the tender, believable moments between them. [Read the review](https://filmstories.co.uk/reviews/stan-ollie-review/) ## HeyUGuys Fi1m's normalised score 85/100 (inferred from the text). The critic finds the film charming, touching and beautifully paced. Coogan’s comic performance and Laurie Rose’s cinematography stand out for praise. [Read the review](https://www.heyuguys.com/stan-ollie-review/) ## NME Fi1m's normalised score 85/100 (inferred from the text). The review warmly praises the film as a lovingly crafted celebration of Laurel and Hardy’s friendship. It singles out Coogan and Reilly’s performances, especially their emotional tenderness beneath the comedy. [Read the review](https://www.nme.com/reviews/stan-ollie-film-review-2429486) ## The Wrap Fi1m's normalised score 85/100 (inferred from the text). 25 January 2018. The critic finds the film funny and moving, praising how it avoids sentimentalizing its subjects. Coogan and Reilly’s performances are singled out for bringing Laurel and Hardy convincingly to life on and offstage. [Read the review](https://www.thewrap.com/stan-ollie-film-review-steve-coogan-john-c-reilly-capture-laurel-hardy-onstage-and-off/) ## Den of Geek — Andrew Husband Rating 4/5. 2 January 2019. The review finds the biopic predictable but ultimately successful because of its performances. It especially praises Coogan and Reilly for convincingly capturing Laurel and Hardy, while also singling out Shirley Henderson and Nina Arianda. [Read the review](https://www.denofgeek.com/movies/stan-ollie-review/) ## /Film — Chris Evangelista Rating 7 out of 10. 27 December 2018. The critic finds the film ultimately successful and moving, despite its predictable story and subdued execution. Coogan and Reilly’s lively, convincing performances and chemistry are its chief strengths. [Read the review](https://www.slashfilm.com/563238/stan-and-ollie-review/) ## The Playlist Fi1m's normalised score 64/100 (inferred from the text). 21 October 2018. Festival review. The page appears to be an LFF review, but its verdict cannot be verified. Crawler protection blocks the article, so no specific praise or criticism is available. [Read the review](https://theplaylist.net/stan-ollie-lff-review-20181021/) ## Eye for Film — Angus Wolfe Murray Fi1m's normalised score 45/100 (inferred from the text). 28 December 2018. The review finds the film’s tone and harmony uneven, though it says the leads give the story heart. It singles out Steve Coogan and John C. Reilly’s performances for praise. [Read the review](https://www.eyeforfilm.co.uk/review/stan-ollie-2018-film-review-by-angus-wolfe-murray) --- © Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Our review: https://film.one/film/stan-and-ollie.md