The Biggest Box Office Hit (and Bonk! and Crack!) of 2010

A lot of recent movies that were remakes of earlier TV shows/movies have been flops at the box office. I can count on both hands the number of bombs we've seen in the past few years, such as "The Pink Panther" (and why in God's name was there a sequel?), "Bewitched", "Get Smart" (more like Get Stupid) and this year's latest bust, "Land of the Lost."

However, I can say with absolute certainty that the Farrelly brothers planned contemporary Three Stooges movie is going to be a smashing success. Smashing, as in nose and balls getting smashed. In fact, I'd be willing to bet money on it, for one reason: guys love seeing other guys get hurt in stupid, obscene ways. It has always been that way since man started walking the planet and will always be that way. I have no doubt that back in 75,000 B.C. a Neanderthal whacked another in the privates with a sling and comedy has never been the same since.

When I was in the 6th grade, one of the boys in my class brought in a VHS tape that he or his dad owned of "The Three Stooges." For reasons unknown (maybe because our teacher was a guy) the class got to watch it one afternoon. For that one hour, the boys were practically falling out of their seats with laughter while the girls (myself included) rolled their eyes and tapped their feet on the floor, impatiently waiting for the ending credits to roll. It's just one of those genetically programmed differences between men and women. My dad loved The Three Stooges. My mother and I would remove ourselves as far away from the living room TV set when he was watching them.

Having said that, I will admit I'm curious about the movie now that one of my favorite actors, Paul Giamatti, has signed on as Larry after Sean Penn backed out of the role. Jim Carrey, who was rumored to play Curly, is also no longer associated with the project. Personally I think John C. Reilly needs to be one of the stooges, don't you?

The Three Stooges movie won't be a date flick, that's for sure, but it will be a hit. So leave the numbskull (um, man) in your life at the theater entrance to see this one, while you catch the Sex in the City sequel or whatever chick flick is playing in the theater at the same time. Expect him to rejoin you with a split gut and soda coming out of his nose from laughing so hard.