A bit of background for those of you who, like me, did not grow up watching the show: The legacy of Moe, Curly and Larry (or Shemp) began in the 1920’s as a vaudeville act dubbed Ted Healy and His Stooges, until 1934 when they were finally named The Three Stooges. Characterized for their physical farce and slapstick form of comedy, the trio made several appearances in short subject and feature films, surviving changes in line-up and production companies. Altogether, the threesome (and its evolving members) appeared in over 200 films, most of which are still telecasted via syndication.

I’m not sure if it is because I have never seen an episode of the original Three Stooges (excuse the generational gap), or I just can’t appreciate Sean Hayes without his Will and Grace-esque flamboyancy; whatever the case may be, this April’s The Three Stooges movie was to say the least not enjoyable. Directed, produced and co-written by the Farrelly Brothers (There’s Something About Mary and Dumb and Dumber), I fear that their attempt at re-creating a comedy act that has spanned almost nine decades was lost to the cheap thrills of 2012’s silver screen.

Split into three short stories, this version of The Three Stooges starts out with babies Moe, Curly, and Larry being abandoned in a duffle bag at an orphanage run by Catholic nuns. Remarkably funny looking, the boys grow up to be too mischievous to get adopted (save for a close-call with potential parents played by Stephen Collins and Carly Craig), testing the patience of the nuns and driving Sister Mary Mengele (played by Larry David…seriously?!?) to destruction. When the next short begins, we find that Moe (Chris Diamantopoulos), Curly (Hayes), and Larry (Will Sasso) are now grown men who still live at the orphanage. Though they are well-liked by their orphaned counterparts, they can’t seem to do anything right. When Monsignor Ratliffe (Brian Doyle-Murray) comes to deliver the news that the orphanage is being closed down due to bankruptcy, the boys become determined to find a way to make the dough themselves in the big city.

And so begins a series of contrived tactics to bulk up a seriously lacking plot. What tactics may you ask? Think Sofia Vergara (Modern Family) in all of her busty Latin splendor, Sports Illustrated model Kate Upton (who plays Sister Bernice) wearing a lacey bathing suit with a habit, and the entire Jersey Shore cast. I may not be an expert in the way of the original Three Stooges—but I do know that it shouldn’t take so many mismatching “celebrity” appearances to get movie-goers to see a film. Especially with an adaptation of a show that people across the world have loved for generations. While it may have been well-intentioned (the Brothers Farrelly spent a good deal of time trying to get this movie made), they should have left what most people consider to be “well-enough” alone.