"RICKY STANICKY" - REVIEW
(Originally published March 17, 2024)
Broad, raunchy, tasteless, ridiculous… in other words, a most ideal (and most welcome) post-Oscar season watch.
After taking a little detour with Green Book, director/co-writer Peter Farrelly (Dumb and Dumber, Kingpin, There’s Something About Mary) returns to the type of extremely funny and warmhearted film with which he made his name. John Cena steals every scene and earns every laugh, and William H. Macy classes up the joint just the right amount.
The look is very flat (a disheartening trend in feature films released directly to streamers) and some tighter editing would help more jokes land, but its shabby charm makes up for it. The script is very sharp and observant, with a great high-concept setup, rich character development, and a beautifully redemptive arc that we don’t often see in this type of comedy, and an aspect in which Farrelly often excels. It feels like a late 90s movie, but in the best way. This one’s a winner.
(Streaming on Prime Video)
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