It’s hard to believe it’s been almost a century since The Three Stooges began inflicting their farcical physical comedy on America via episodic short films and other avenues. For some, the idea of Hollywood even considering trying to recreate that vaudeville vulgarity is like a

proverbial slap in the face (or poke to the eye or kick to the groin, replete with cartoonish sound effects). But if there’s anyone who could possibly recreate the Stooges brand of slapstick for today’s viewing audience while maintaining the ideals that made it funny the first time around, it’s the directing duo of the Farrelly brothers, who were clearly inspired by a similar aesthetic when making movies such as There’s Something About Mary, Dumb and Dumber and Kingpin.

In The Three Stooges: The Movie, Moe, Larry and Curly are back (played by Chris Diamantopoulos, Will & Grace‘s Sean Hayes and MADtv‘s Will Sasso, respectively), this time as three orphans who arrive unceremoniously via a tossed duffle bag. Even as kids, the trio (looking like smaller versions of the childlike adults they will become) is oblivious to the mayhem that follows them around the orphanage, giving Sister Mary-Mengele (played with appropriate absurdity by Curb Your Enthusiasm‘s Larry David) fits. Since no one wants to adopt these three dim-witted rascals, Moe, Larry and Curly find themselves still causing chaos at the orphanage well into adulthood.

When news comes that the orphanage will soon be shut down, the Stooges vow to come up with the money to save it. With an encouraging song from Sister Rosemary (David Otunga‘s baby mama Jennifer Hudson) to send them off, the Stooges are dragged (quite literally) into the real world, fitting in about as well as Will Ferrell’s Buddy did in Elf. It doesn’t take them long to clumsily stumble into Lydia (a bosomy Sofía Vergara) whose plot to off her rich husband unwittingly becomes the Stooges plan to quickly come up with the money to save the orphanage. Through a series of slapstick mishaps, the Stooges find themselves causing comedic chaos in a hospital nursery, woob woob woob-ing their way into upscale parties and even joining the cast of Jersey Shore (where Moe becomes a star for using his sarcasm and violent ways on Snooki and The Situation).

Though there’s no explanation as to why the Stooges look and sound like they are from the time period of the original trio, it really doesn’t matter since it just adds to the overall absurdity. In a world where sledgehammers to the face and lobsters in your pants are funny instead of fatal, the anachronism of the characters serves to further retain the nostalgia of the original show. I just wonder, assuming there will be a sequel, if we’ll ever see Shemp join in the mayhem.

The Three Stooges: The Movie. Directed by Peter & Bobby Farrelly. Starring Sean Hayes, Will Sasso and Chris Diamantopoulos. Rated PG. www.threestooges.com.