Punch Drunks (1934)
Punch drunks was the 2nd official Three Stooges short film,Moe is a most unlikely boxing promoter who falls out with his associates. Curly's a waiter at a restaurant,Larry is a fiddler at the restaurant (what a coincidence) is playing the song pop goes the weasel.Hearing the song Curly goes into a rage and knocks out a boxer at the restaurant.Moe see's a chance of making money with Curly as a boxing champion and Larry on the fiddle.Where as Laurel and Hardy were fairly gentle in there slapstick,well compared to the Three Stooges they are.The Stooges are relentless in there eye poking , head slapping and general insanity.Story was written by Moe Howard, Larry Fine and Curly Howard , which may explain why its not actually War and Peace.But its quite a clever little gag having Curly turn into a fighter whenever he hears the Pop goes the Weasel song. The verbal jokes are all pretty weak and poor so its a good job the endless arguing and bickering and fighting is more than enough to keep you amused.You kind of knew with Laurel and hardy that at the core of there stories was there friendship,you never get any of that with the Stooges,Moe constant barks orders at Curly and Larry like the Gunnery Sergeant Hartman in Full Metal Jacket but with even less compassion.Curly takes a good old beating in the boxing ring while Larry looks for a replacement for his violin."victim of soycumstance!"Eventually Larry gets hold of campaign truck with speakers blaring the pop goes the weasel tune,and Curly wins the fight to become world champion,unfortunately for Moe and Larry the music keeps on playing and Curly knocks the pair of them out,and then heads straight to the camera heading for us YIKES. The world is split into two types those that love the Stooges and those that don't,I do.
out of 5