Movie Review: Ricky Stanicky (2024) – Starring Zac Efron and John Cena
By Chris Sabga [E-Mail | Facebook | Website | X]
The Best Friend They Never Had
John Cena’s motto in wrestling is “You can’t see me!” Now he’s in a movie playing someone literally no one has ever seen before.
After a seemingly harmless Halloween prank ends up with a house in flames, three little boys – Dean, JT, and Wes (Riley Stiles, Oscar Wilson, and Gaius Nolan) – invent a culprit they childishly name Ricky Stanicky to pin the blame on.
It somehow works!
As adults (now played by Zac Efron, Andrew Santino, and Jermaine Fowler), they haven’t grown up: Ricky Stanicky still “exists” in their lives. He’s “the best friend they never had.” They use their fraudulent fictional “friend” as a get-out-of-jail-free card to blatantly lie to their partners and boss.
Adding to the ruse: There’s a separate phone number and Instagram account for Ricky Stanicky.
To keep all of their fabricated stories straight, they’ve written a “bible” outlining the character’s entire life. He’s a cancer survivor and recovering alcoholic who has done impressive humanitarian charity work with no less than Bono.
On the same day Dean, JT, and Wes are expected to attend a dreaded baby shower, they find out tragic news: Ricky Stanicky’s cancer has returned, and he’s in the hospital all alone. What kind of friends would they be if they didn’t drop all of their plans to be by his side?
Of course, there’s no hospital and no Ricky Stanicky. The real reason for their sudden emergency and subsequent absence: They’ve scored last-minute free concert tickets in Atlantic City.
While there, they meet a struggling professional actor with a lewd stage act and a disturbing appetite for calamari: Rod Rimestead – AKA Rock Hard Rod (John Cena).
Then JT’s wife goes into labor six weeks early, which forces them to rush back home from their trip.
However, a complication arises when it comes to host the bris – a Jewish circumcision ceremony – because that’s hilariously the social event of the year, and Ricky Stanicky is expected to be there.
Reminder: There is no Ricky Stanicky.
Dean, JT, and Wes could tell the truth – Wes tries to – but the more logical solution, obviously, is to hire the drunk they met in Atlantic City who does a sleazy lounge act.
Enter: Rock Hard Rod.
He can impersonate their fake friend.
Makes perfect sense to me!
The many guests at the bris include the Rabbi (“Roastmaster General” Jeff Ross), whose presence is necessary to seal the deal with a snip, and Summerhayes (William H. Macy is a scene-stealing highlight), who runs the company Dean and JT work for. The boss has to be there, right? After all, watching a mid-level employee’s newborn baby get circumcised is something any high-powered executive would clear their calendar for. I’ve attended two this week myself!
Rod/Ricky is similar to the character Cena previously played in both Vacation Friends movies – an extreme weirdo who nonetheless charms everyone around him, except the perpetually frustrated main characters.
All of this is fun and amusing.
Life is great for Dean, JT, and Wes – until “the best friend they never had” decides to stick around and become the “best friend” they do have, whether they want him or not.
The second half is more dramatic and plays almost like a tense horror movie as the weight of their lies constantly threaten to come crashing down all around them. It made me anxious! It’s a tonal shift that doesn’t always work.
Part of the problem could be that a whopping eight writers are listed in the credits – never a good sign – and one Farrelly (Peter) is directing this without the other (Bobby). I sincerely hope the Farrelly Brothers reunite for their next project, because they’re better together (like Will Ferrell and Adam McKay – regardless of how many Oscar nominations Peter Farrelly and Adam McKay have gotten on their own).
The interactions between John Cena and William H. Macy are priceless, though. Their highlight together comes as “Ricky” repeatedly criticizes Summerhayes for his wildly over-the-top hand gestures. I may never look at William H. Macy the same way again. He deserves praise for being such a good sport by willingly becoming the butt of the joke and participating in a very dirty and obscene – but memorable – running gag.
John Cena was the undisputed “leading man” as a professional wrestler, but his movie career has seen him excel more as a comedic sidekick. He has somewhat become the “R-Truth” of Hollywood, which is still a solid and respectable – not to mention very entertaining – position to be in.
Cena’s role in Ricky Stanicky is just off-kilter enough that I could see this film developing a cult following over time.
| Release Date: March 7, 2024 (U.S.) • Rating: R • Genre: Comedy • Running Time: 113 minutes • Director: Peter Farrelly • Cast: Zac Efron, Andrew Santino, Jermaine Fowler, with William H. Macy and John Cena |
Chris Sabga has written for WOW Magazine, CBS Sportsline’s WrestleLine, IGN.com, They Live By Film, and SilverScreenSurprises.com.
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