Last night, Steve Coogan held a preview of this film at the Roxy Cinema in Ulverston, Stan Laurel's hometown. The cinema is just above the Laurel and Hardy Museum (where I work) and he also held a party afterwards for his guests in the museum.

My initial reaction: Utter and total relief, and I absolutely adore it. I was very apprehensive about how they were gonna be portrayed.
However after viewing the film myself, I was really struggling to hold back the tears with relief. (Yes, I am a softy!)
Despite a few awkward scenes where they are arguing, their friendship and love for each other does shine through. I think that’s the most important thing overall.

It isn’t entirely accurate: One scene has Stan waiting to sign the contract with Fox Studios but Ollie doesn't show up because he's still at Roach Studios, making an "elephant film" with Harry Langdon called "Zenobia". This is completely inaccurate. Laurel and Hardy made 6 films with Fox, proving that Ollie did turn up to sign the contract.

He made "Zenobia" back in 1939. Their career at Fox didn't start until 1941. By that time Laurel and Hardy had made three more films together since "Zenobia": "A Chump At Oxford", "The Flying Deuces" and "Saps At Sea".

Stan sent Ollie a telegram when he was scheduled to appear on a radio show to promote the film "Zenobia". It stated: "Will be listening and wishing you loads of success. Yours as ever." Again this proves that "Zenobia" was made only because Ollie was still under contract with Roach and Stan wasn't. They never had an argument about it. Stan stated: "Please don't say my friend Babe and I have ever had a bad word. Babe is one of my best friends and the only arguments we have had have been occasional differences of opinion on stories. There isn't an actor in the world who doesn't want to discuss a story idea and give his own personal viewpoint." (Parsons)

The portrayal of Hal Roach is also entirely inaccurate. In 1934, Roach paid himself $2,000 a week, paid Ollie $2,000 a week, and paid Stan $3,500 a week, more than anyone else at the studio... according to L&H expert Randy Skretvedt.
Another authority on L&H, Glenn Mitchell put it right when he wrote: "Though necessarily ruthless, Roach permitted his employees a mostly free hand within an agreeable environment; most agree that there was no finer boss." (The L&H Encyclopaedia.)

But the filmmakers of this new film were open and honest, and have explained that it isn’t entirely accurate. After all, the inaccuracies are a good talking point for discussion.

Despite the inaccuracies, the movie is also filled with accurate attention to detail. The acting, both as the characters and as the real life people is incredible. The make-up work is astonishing.
The set designs is absolutely phenomenal - There’s one scene where they’re inside Roach studios, but we get a glimpse in the background of what the studio looked like from the outside and it was uncanny. How they’ve re-created that, I’ve no idea.
At the beginning of the film we see Stan scraping off the heels from his shoes. It’s not explained in the film why, but it’s just something for true fans to notice! The film has loads of little moments like this - The general public won’t notice it, but true fans will.

The make up, costumes, lighting and choreography are all second to none. There really is so much to love about the film and I am so positive that it will introduce new fans to the boys. It will also remind people who haven't seen them for a while just how funny they still are!

I laughed - I cried - I was relieved - I felt a mix of so many emotions, but overall, it was absolutely incredible and I love it with all my heart.