Movies likeNeighborshave proven his comedic chops. Movies likeExtremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vilehave proven his wide-ranging charm, mixed with a certain darkness. And, of course,The Iron Clawproved Zac Efron is an awards-caliber performer capable ofwinning an Oscarwho continues to show promise as an A-lister in Hollywood. Unfortunately,Ricky Stanickydoesn’t advance his game in any of these acting departments. Just hearing the title “Ricky Stanicky” points toward a rather slapstick fun film with relentless raunchiness along the way.
Don’t let the kids near this one, even if the film’s title derives from the name of an imaginary childhood friend. Despite the seemingly innocuous title, this is hard R-rated stuff. Unfortunately, the end result is a bit of a mess, despite John Cena’s star power and committed and sometimes hilarious turn as the titular antihero.
Slapstick to a Fault
Ricky Stanicky
Peter Farrelly, who oncetook home multiple OscarsforGreen Book, is miles away from that beloved (yet ultimately controversial) film with this new R-rated offering. Perhaps a project like this would be best approached with his brother Bobby by his side, eh? After all, it was this dynamic duo that broughtDumb & Dumber, There’s Something About Mary, Kingpin,and evenMe, Myself & Ireneto life on the big screen.
And with the brothers working together onRicky Stanicky, perhaps Efron’s performance could have been improved. He is simply not the funniest here, and it’s a damn shame. Sure, he possesses inherently professional comedic timing, especially in reaction to his character Dean’s pals (played by real-life comics Andrew Santino and Jermaine Fowler), but it’s a little awkward seeing Efron play it so straight in an otherwise outrageously silly premise.
One example of this kind of unevenness comes in the first act when Efron gives a heartbreaking little scene performance as he turns to his loving wife Erin (Lex Scott Davis) and reveals tragic news that his lifelong friend is losing a battle with cancer. It’s the kind of dramaEfron offers throughoutThe Iron Claw, and we feel for him here. Then, it’s all a bust, of course, as he sneaks out of the house and laughs with his friends about how they pulled off another big lie. This kind of unevenness is a major pitfall ofRicky Stanickysince Efron’s performance falls right in the middle of a comedic spectrum. Instead, he perhaps should have gone all in on the ridiculousness so that it’s not so cringe watching him tell this kind of ridiculous lie to his life partner — and almost makeusbelieve it in the process.
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Santino and Fowler, meanwhile, help keep the mood light with their slapstick, off-the-cuff antics. They’re naturals, as showcased with Santino in FX’s hit seriesDaveand with Fowler in the Prime Video movieComing 2 America. Their characters' hotheaded boss in the film is played bynone other than William H. Macy, whose more serious vibe feels out of place in the first and second acts — that is until a little-known wrestler-turned-movie star by the name of John Cena swoops in to boost Macy’s performance to a riotous achievement. The combination of these two performers will make you burst out laughing — but no spoilers here to ruin the raunchy surprise…
Speaking of, Cena is the saving grace here, playing a Vegas performer who gets hired by Dean’s trio to play the part of their imaginary friend. For decades, they’ve been lying to loved ones about “Ricky’s” existence ever since they set a house on fire as young boys. This flashback moment serves as the film’s decently funny opening, followed by a ’90s-esque title sequence that calls back to situational comedies from 20 years ago. But now it’s present-day, and the trio’s partners and loved ones are fed up and simply want to know who the heck this Ricky guy is…
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Cena’s Rod persona (turned Ricky, of course) is an alcoholic whose incredible physique is explained by the throwaway explanation of “steroids.” Awfully convenient, thoughCena’s comedic chopscontinue to bud here. Honestly, he was funnier inBlockers(2019), butStanickycertainly gives him more of a spotlight. The film’s centerpiece moment is none other than a ceremonial briss for a newborn baby, where all the principal and supporting characters are gathered — and where Ricky makes his grand entrance to prove the doubters wrong. Cena puts on a clinic here as Ricky recites perfectly the made-up tale his friends coached him on beforehand. It almost makes up for the somewhat lackluster feel that plagues the rest of the film surrounding it.
Unfortunately, this centerpiece moment also highlights another faulty trend inRicky Stanicky: missed opportunities. Iconic comedian Jeff Ross plays the rabbi who will perform the briss, but we only see him once — and it’s brief. It would have been nice to see him at least one other time, to have a sort of payoff — especially because the actor is a comedic natural. Watch any televised “roast” for reference. There are other missed opportunities with Ricky’s character, where you might find yourself thinking, “Man, they should have done itthisway.”
In general,Ricky Stanickyprobably won’t be a memorable addition to the modern comedy realm of cinema, but Efron fans will likely remain hopeful for another powerhouse performance in the near future. But for now, another perk of his starring turn inStanickyis the woman playing his wife, Erin: rising star Lex Scott Davis, who will soon star intheSuits: LAspinoffon TV.In the meantime,Ricky Stanickypremieres globally on Prime Video Mar. 7. Watch the trailer and stream it through the link below:
