Sony Pictures Classics has released the official US trailer for the upcoming biopic Stan & Ollie, which chronicles the later years of the iconic comedy duo “Laurel & Hardy.” The film stars John C. Reilly as Oliver Hardy and Steve Coogan as Stan Laurel, and it covers the duo’s variety hall tour of Britain in 1953. At this point in time, the two were no longer the kings of comedy or even the closest of friends, but through the tour they saw their fame re-ignited and friendship strengthened.

This movie looks very sweet, and I’m curious to check it out. While Reilly is now best-known for his goofy comedic roles, he’s a terrific dramatic actor, and I love that Stan & Ollie and The Sisters Brothers are seeing him return to his roots so-to-speak, in a way that reminds audiences just how good he really is.

Check out the new Stan & Ollie trailer below. Written by Jeff Pope and directed by Jon S. Baird, the film also stars Nina Arianda, Shirley Henderson, Danny Huston, and Rufus Jones. Stan & Ollie opens in theaters in NY and LA on December 28th.

Here’s the official synopsis for Stan & Ollie:

Laurel & Hardy, one of the world's great comedy teams, set out on a variety hall tour of Britain in 1953. Diminished by age and with their golden era as the kings of Hollywood comedy now behind them, they face an uncertain future. As the charm and beauty of their performances shines through, they re-connect with their adoring fans.

 

The tour becomes a hit, but Stan & Ollie can't quite shake the specter of Laurel and Hardy's past; the long-buried ghosts, coupled with Oliver's failing health, start to threaten their precious partnership. A portrait of the most tender and poignant of creative marriages, they are aware that they may be approaching their swan song, trying to rediscover just how much they mean to each other.