The Three Stooges (2012), a cinematic rendition of the 20th-century comedy trio, written by Mike Cerrone and the Farrelly brothers and directed by the latter, attempts to navigate the waters between the well-loved slapstick classic and 21st-century effects and pop culture. The film includes not only the memorable traits of the dynamic trio and physical comedy reminiscent of the traditional act, but modern media references, such as those to MTV’s Jersey Shore. The use of modern special effects in the creation of physical comedy, though, triggers a very different response from audiences than did the original, older slapstick version.

In large part, 20th-century comedy consisted of animated scenarios, such as those that unfold in cartoons like Tom and Jerry and Looney Tunes. There was, of course, a significant representation of live-action slapstick in films as well. The limitations of 20th-century special effects, including their black and white appearance, made the films seem less realistic. Having viewers not associate the diegesis as much with the world in which they live, however, invited them to create a separate world, similar to that in which cartoons reside, where the silliness is more easily acceptable.

By contrast, the modern Three Stooges is aesthetically extraordinarily realistic. The effect of the physical comedy thus becomes more jarring, as it asks viewers to accept improbable actions not only in the cinematic world, but in the world in which they reside. This creates a certain discomfort, which some viewers feel adds to the comedic effect. Unfortunately, for many other viewers, seeing a head hammering cause a man to seem only a little bit dizzy, with visual effects that make the situation seem entirely real, creates an empathetic pain for the Stooge and frustration at the implausibility of the scenario, and both reduce the comic element in the film.