Stooges: The Men Behind the Mayhem

If you're looking for a healthy helping of nyuk nyuks, you've come to the wrong DVD. The core of this two-disc collection is an expanded version of an A&E Biography episode on the Three Stooges; unfortunately, it looks as if filmmaker Paul E. Gierucki did not clear the rights to the original Stooges classics, settling instead for scratchy prints of a few public domain titles, home movies, trailers, and still photographs. The result puts the Stooges at a decided disadvantage, as family and colleagues talk about how wonderful the comics were, while their prime footage is nowhere to be seen. In addition, none of the interviews are especially insightful, and in the case of Adam West (who starred in the team's final feature, The Outlaws Is Coming) it appears the ex-Batman is trying too hard to conjure up any memory of his brief association with the trio. Oddly, the only intriguing aspect of this collection resides in the DVD extras, where a few brief radio interviews appear with Moe and Larry (hearing the funnymen talking seriously about their craft is almost as jarring as being on the receiving end of their famed eye-pokes and tossed pies). Beyond those audio rarities, however, Stooge fanatics will not find anything here they haven't seen before (including four bonus shorts), while neophytes trying to understand the Stooges' popularity will likely be confused with this sloppy and unsatisfactory offering. Not a necessary purchase. Aud: P. (P. Hall)