The Three Stooges – WISE Score & Parent Review | Screenwise

The Three Stooges

Name: Screenwise
Author: Screenwise

movie2012

25%

WISE Score

Avg. Tomatometer

A 2012 attempt to resurrect 1930s slapstick that's basically 92 minutes of grown men poking each other in the eyes—and not in a good way.

51%

5.8

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The Three Stooges

movie

2012

25%

WISE Score

Avg. Tomatometer

A 2012 attempt to resurrect 1930s slapstick that's basically 92 minutes of grown men poking each other in the eyes—and not in a good way.

51%

5.8

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51%

5.8

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Screenwise Verdict

Let's be real: this movie bombed for a reason. With a 48% audience score and 5.2/10 on IMDb, even fans of the original Three Stooges couldn't get behind this 2012 remake.

The core problem is that it's 92 minutes of relentless eye-poking, face-slapping, and head-bonking—the exact same gags from 90 years ago—without any of the charm or cultural context that made the originals work. For modern kids, it's just... boring. And for parents, it's modeling physical aggression as humor for an hour and a half straight.

There's essentially zero educational value, no character growth, no clever wordplay, and no heart. The 'save the orphanage' plot is tissue-thin, and the murder subplot feels weirdly dark even though it's played for laughs.

If your kid is genuinely curious about the Three Stooges, honestly just show them a 15-minute compilation of the original shorts on YouTube and call it a day. This movie is skippable for basically everyone.

Age Fit

Common Sense Media says 9+, which tracks for the slapstick violence level, but honestly most kids 7-12 will find this boring and dated. Teens would only watch ironically. This is really for nostalgic adults who loved the original Stooges, not for kids.

WISE Breakdown

Wholesome

The entire premise is slapstick violence—eye-poking, head-bonking, physical aggression played for laughs. While it's cartoonish and no one gets seriously hurt, it models behavior (hitting, slapping, physical retaliation) that's the opposite of kindness or cooperation. The Stooges are lovable in their innocence, but their interactions are chaotic and physically aggressive throughout. Not emotionally healthy modeling for kids.

Imaginative

This is a straight remake of 1930s-1950s comedy routines with minimal originality—it's essentially the same gags transplanted to 2012. There's no invitation to build, explore, or create. The plot (saving an orphanage, getting caught in a murder scheme, reality TV) is formulaic. The 'fish out of water' premise has been done better elsewhere. It's derivative nostalgia without fresh creative spark.

Safe

Common Sense Media rates it for age 9, and while there's constant slapstick violence (eye pokes, slaps, bonks), it's cartoonish with no blood or real injury. The murder plot element is played for comedy but could be confusing or mildly concerning for younger viewers. There's some mild crude humor. No gore, nudity, or sex, but the relentless physical comedy could normalize hitting. It's predictable in its content—no shocking moments—but the violence level, even if silly, is pervasive.

Enriching

There's virtually no cognitive, ethical, or personal growth here. The Stooges learn nothing, display no character development, and the 'save the orphanage' plot is paper-thin. The humor is purely physical with no wit or wordplay that might build language skills. The reality TV subplot is more satire for adults than meaningful content for kids. Entertainment value is subjective but ratings (5.2 IMDb, 48% RT audience, 2.5/5 Letterboxd) suggest even the entertainment falls flat for most viewers.

Parent Info

✓

Why It Might Be Great

If your kid genuinely loves old-school physical comedy and has already exhausted actual Three Stooges shorts, this exists
The Stooges are portrayed as innocent and well-meaning despite their chaos, which is... something
It's completely predictable, so no surprise scares or inappropriate content beyond the constant hitting
Might spark curiosity about the original 1930s-50s shorts, which at least have historical comedy value

⚠

What to Watch For

Constant physical violence played for laughs—eye-poking, face-slapping, head-bonking throughout the entire runtime
The murder plot storyline (even though it's comedic) might be confusing or concerning for younger kids
Crude humor and some bathroom gags that aren't offensive but aren't exactly enriching either
It's genuinely not funny to most modern audiences based on ratings—kids will likely be bored

Conversation Starters

"Why do you think the Stooges keep hitting each other? Is that how friends should treat each other?"
"What would happen if you poked someone in the eye at school? Why is it different in this movie?"
"The Stooges grew up in an orphanage—what do you think that would be like?"
"This movie is based on comedy from the 1930s. Why do you think humor changes over time?"

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