Ricky Stanicky Review: John Cena, Peter Farrelly, Uneven Comedy

Peter Farrelly's R-rated comedy "Ricky Stanicky" starring Zac Efron and John Cena falls short of expectations despite its raunchy humor.

Peter Farrelly, known for his Oscar-winning film Green Book, is back with a new project starring Zac Efron. This time, the film, titled Ricky Stanicky, falls short of expectations and fails to fully utilize Efron's talents. Despite Efron's proven comedic skills in movies like Neighbors and his ability to portray darker characters in films like Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile, Ricky Stanicky misses the mark.

The film, which features an R-rated storyline despite its seemingly innocent title, follows Efron's character, Dean, and his friends as they navigate a series of comedic mishaps involving an imaginary childhood friend named Ricky Stanicky. While the film attempts to blend humor with drama, it often falls flat due to its uneven tone and missed opportunities with character development and plot points.

John Cena's performance as the titular character provides some comedic relief, but even his star power can't save the film from its shortcomings. The dynamic between Efron and his co-stars, including real-life comics Andrew Santino and Jermaine Fowler, adds some light-hearted moments to the otherwise lackluster storyline. However, the film's reliance on slapstick humor and raunchiness may not appeal to all audiences.

Overall, Ricky Stanicky may not leave a lasting impact on the comedy genre, but Efron fans can still appreciate his performance alongside rising star Lex Scott Davis, who plays his wife in the film. While the movie may not live up to the standards set by Farrelly's previous work, it offers a glimpse into Efron's potential as a versatile actor in Hollywood. Fans can catch Ricky Stanicky on Prime Video starting March 7th.