For Love or Mummy

Awful beyond words. Bronson Pinchot and Gailard Sartain give career-ending performances as Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy in this laughless straight-to-video "comedy" that purports to bring back the magic of the classic comedy duo. Producer and co-director Larry Harmon--better known as TV's Bozo the Clown--was once a partner of Stan Laurel (or so the press materials claim), and this film reportedly realizes Harmon's long held dream of creating an updated version of the team. Pinchot and Sartain demonstrate no talent for comedy, and the banal plot, lame slapstick, and occasionally insulting dialogue (witness the following volley between two foreign baddies: "Go knock her out." "Violence against women is forbidden in our country." "We're not IN your country"), make it unsuitable even for younger viewers. [Note: Out of respect for his past film achievements, and his Academy Award, I won't mention that F. Murray Abraham plays a prominent role in the film.] Not recommended. (S. C. Sickles)