What Is the Story About?
Ricky Stanicky follows a group of three long-time friends Dean , JT and Wes who have reached a point where they have to introduce their imaginary friend Ricky Stanicky, the one who they’ve blamed for the past two decades for all their misbehaviors and messy broils they entanged themselves in to their suspicious partners. The trio hires a washed up actor to play the part to bring the character to life. But once the job is done, they want him out of their lives in order to not further expose their lies. What happens when Rod becomes Ricky Stanicky and how his arrival changes the trio’s course forms the rest of the story.
Performances?
The MVP of the movie is John Cena. The WWE superstar leaves no stone unturned in his actor-era, after the super success of Peacemaker. And in Ricky Stanicky, he plays a comic Cooper, a washed up actor who has to play the part of an imaginary, mischievous friend Ricky. John Cena is effortlessly charming and keeps the movie going with the laughs and one-liners he churns. The movie is fun as long as he there and this is enough testament of the impact he creates in the movie. He gets arguably the most well written fun part yet in his acting career and makes it one of his own to the extent that one can’t imagine anyone else as the unseen Ricky Stanicky.
Zac Efron wears his coming-of-age useless, naughty brat cap on and even in his late thirties can rattle some feathers in the comedy genre. His scenes with John Cena are a riot! Jermaine Fowler and Andrew Santino plays Wes and JT. While their bromance chemistry with Cena and Efron are fun, their characters are one-note and under-written by a mile.
Analysis
From the Academy Award winning director Peter Farrelly (Green Book, 2018), Ricky Stanicky is an R rated buddy comedy of sorts and also a bit of a drama that centers around three long time friends and their all-time scapegoat – an imaginary friend who they’ve named – Ricky Stanicky. After a run with movies that were off his style, Farrelly is back to making the kind of silly, outrageous comedies he made with his brother back in the 90s.
Ricky Stanicky’s premise is a perfect recipe for a gold-mine comedy roll where you have three mischievous friends and an imaginary character who was held responsible for all their mischiefs. After fooling everyone around them for decades, the trio finally lands in trouble when their suspicious partners demand to meet Ricky.
The trio hires a washed up low budget actor named ‘Rod’ to play the part of Ricky Stanicky. As Dean coaches Rod on their imaginary pal, his traits, qualities, curated antics and the incidents they blamed him for, predictable laughs and one-liners peep in. Rod becomes Ricky, impresses everyone including Dean and JT’s boss who offers him a lucrative job title. And needless to say, a very charming John Cena brings laughs to the table.
The film heads to very much chartered territories as it tries to celebrate ‘true friendship’ even when the buddy trio’s scam gets exposed. Even if three despicable manchildren refuse to grow up and blame a non-existent character for their own troubles, the film tries to redeem them and inject melodrama to their backstories.
One of the biggest flaws of the movie is its third act and ending. Unarguably bland, boring and melodramatic with minimal to no payoffs. The characters in question have indulged in some unforgivable actions, but the writing relies too much on the repetitive predictability of letting the ‘friends walk scott free’. The tonal shifts are too crowded and less nuanced for the audience to feel for the trio, most importantly Dean.
In short, Ricky Stanicky is partially fun and engaging. While for the most of it is a flat has-been comedy. John Cena makes every scene he is in count and brings in heavy laughs. Reminiscent of 90s bromance comedies, Ricky Stanicky is a silly entertainer that doesn’t fully land, but has enough to may be.. take off.
Music and Other Departments?
Dave Palmer’s music transports the viewer back to 90s comedies by retaining the cheekiness and outrageousness of those times. John Brawley’s cinematography is quite ordinary and nothing surprisingly stands out. Considering how the camera work came through in Farrelly’s Green Book, the effort is nowhere to be seen in here.
Highlights?
John Cena & Zac Efron
Some funny one-liners
Nostalgic comedic clap-backs
Drawbacks?
Third Act
Failed blend of comedy and drama
Under-used supporting cast
Not many jokes land
Did I Enjoy It?
Yes, in parts.
Will You Recommend It?
You can give it a try for John Cena’s performance and some laughs.
Ricky Stanicky Movie Review by Binged Bureau
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