Ricky Stanicky Review: John Cena does an impressive job in this light comedy

Prime Video’s newest original, Ricky Stanicky, is a lighthearted comedy that you can enjoy with your brain turned off. It’s about three childhood friends, Dean (Zac Efron), JT (Andrew Santino) and Wes (Jermaine Fowler), who for the past two decades have blamed all their shenanigans on an imaginary “Ricky Stanicky” whom no one in the life has met. Want to skip a gathering? Don’t worry, you have inevitable plans with Ricky that day anyway! Want to outsource your expenses? Ricky must be to blame! Do you want to attend a concert? Of course you will help Ricky that day!

However, Ricky is no ordinary hero. He is a seven-year-old sober philanthropist who helps dig out hurricane victims, builds orphanages, is extremely concerned about the planet, and so on. He had cancer twice and had one testicle removed. (um… looks like the writers went too far with the fantasy concept!)

However, this Ricky Stanicky tale is threatened when the trio mistakenly miss the birth of TJ’s pregnant wife while secretly attending a Marc Rebellet concert in Atlantic City because they were busy helping Ricky with his “emergency surgery” in Albany with the phones turned off.

While the three have comfortably avoided all suspicion until now, this time TJ’s mother-in-law, Leona, begins to question whether Ricky Stanicky exists, putting the three in a difficult position. She insists that if there really is such a man, he attends the money ceremony for TJ’s son this coming weekend.

Caught in a web of lies, the trio decide to hire an actor who could play Ricky for a day. The trio finalize “Rock Hard Rod” (John Cena) – a “trained actor” they meet in Atlantic City – and the drama begins!

Ricky Stanicky Review: John Cena’s colorful character steals the show

John Cena’s character takes the fictional Ricky Stanicky’s acting in the film too seriously

John Cena’s character is gleefully dumb! He is a failed drug addict, a raging alcoholic and a failed actor who is strangely passionate about his own pleasure. He’s created cheap, sexualized versions of famous songs like School’s Out, White Wedding and Baby, I Love Your Way, which he plays in a shady bar full of disinterested audiences – when he’s not busy doing bad impersonations of famous actors or letting loose the customers at the bar.

He gets drunk and doesn’t know why dangerous men might be chasing him. He is deceptively confident and dangerously optimistic. He is an unapologetic extrovert and cannot accept social cues even if his life depends on it.

Rod considers himself a method actor with high “artistic integrity” who takes his work too seriously. Of course, when he’s given the role of a lifetime to play Ricky, he wears his skin wonderfully!

However, there is much more to him than just raunchy songs, funny impressions and absurd costumes. He would encourage you to follow your calling. It will give you the space to just be yourself and fill you with positivity,

Whether you want to or not, you’ll soon find yourself looking at this awesome character as a warm person you’d want to befriend, just like most of the characters in the film who were struck by his unique personality.

John Cena does an impressive job as Rod. His playing doesn’t feel forced. He will make you laugh, think and fall in love with him all at once.

Review of Ricky Stanisi: Final Verdict

The writing could have been richer in Peter Farrelly’s Ricky Stanicky

Ricky Stanicky is a decent disposable watch. While I wouldn’t classify it as comedy gold, it can be a good choice when you just want to be entertained. You can easily add it to your binge-watching list.

The script could have been much richer, but then you’d be forced to use a brain cell or two, an idea the writers were clearly opposed to. My advice is not to look for loopholes in the script because you will find many. At some points, the film can seem like an episode of a long-running comedy show, trying too hard to make the audience laugh.

The writing is too predictable and the whole scenario is based on very convenient coincidences. For example, the idea of ​​a bible is too convenient; s if the trio already knew that their lies would one day be caught up and that they would need it to use as a script for some actor. Or the apparent coincidence of them meeting Rod right before their family became suspicious of Ricky Stanisi. If the genre had been anything other than comedy, the film would have failed royally.

While John Cena surprised me with a delightful performance, I was a little disappointed with Zac Effron, who seemed to have run out of expression. Although his troubled childhood is briefly mentioned in the film, the story arc is left hanging, much like our expectations. However, Jermaine Fowler’s acting deserves praise. By the way, he is also one of the few sane characters!

It won’t be wrong to say that Cena effortlessly carries this sailing script on his shoulders. Although the writing was a bit weak, the movie definitely brightened my mood. Get ready for goosebumps and laughs as you channel Ricky Stanicky.