Ricky Stanicky (2024) - Review
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© 2023 Amazon Content Services LLC
Directed by: Peter Farrelly
Written by: Jeff Bushell, Brian Jarvis, James Lee Freeman, Peter Farrelly, Pete Jones, Mike Cerrone
Starring: Zac Efron, Jermaine Fowler, Andrew Santino, Lex Scott Davis, Anja Savcic, Jeff Ross, William H. Macy, John Cena
Runtime: 114 min
Synopsis: When three childhood best friends pull a prank gone wrong, they invent the imaginary Ricky Stanicky to get them out of trouble! Twenty years after creating this 'friend,' Dean, JT, and Wes still use the nonexistent Ricky as a handy alibi for their immature behavior. When their spouses and partners get suspicious and demand to finally meet the fabled Mr. Stanicky, the guilty trio decide to hire washed-up actor and raunchy celebrity impersonator "Rock Hard" Rod to bring him to life. But when Rod takes his role of a lifetime too far, they begin to wish they'd never invented Ricky in the first place.
© 2023 Amazon Content Services LLC
Editor's Note: Original review was written for FandomWire. Full article can be found below.
REVIEW SUMMARY
Ricky Stanicky cleverly uses a blend of light humor, simple yet sincere messages, and a pleasant narrative to provide broad entertainment, as well as a testament to the complexities of personal growth and human nature. The standout performance of John Cena, along with a cohesive and dynamic cast, elevates the film beyond its conventional plot, highlighting Peter Farrelly’s ability to create stories that resonate with the audience through laughter and reflection. Despite the divergent opinions on Farrelly’s contributions to cinema, his talent for balancing comedy with deeper thematic elements is once again laid out for everyone to appreciate, some more than others. Recommended for all types of viewers.
