Ricky Stanicky Is A Decent Broad Comedy With Surprising Layers Underneath [Review]

Directed by Peter Farrelly, Ricky Stanicky is a big broad comedy from its opening moments. At first glance doesn’t seem to be aiming for anything but belly laughs. Bolstered by a committed cast, the film delivers on this impulse throughout the first half. Initially, it doesn’t appear to have any other ambitions. Instead, relying on goofy comedy for a solid (if slightly forgettable) effect.

However, a more surprisingly emotional core hides just underneath the surface. Much like the titular character, Ricky Stanicky possesses a lot more depth than one would expect. While it never quite stops being a crass comedy, the unexpected layers of Ricky Stanicky give the Prime Video film a greater sense of personality.

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Ricky Stanicky Is Silly, Sophmoroic, And Surprisingly Sincere

Ricky Stanicky initially seems content to occupy the comic space of something like the The Hangover. Dean (Zac Efron), Wes (Jermaine Fowler) and JT (Andrew Santino) are lifelong best friends. The trio grew up skating past any consequence for their actions by using the catch-all excuse of Ricky Stanicky. The imaginary friend was invented in their youth as a means of escaping culpability for a prank gone wrong. Ever since, “Ricky” has evolved to become their ever-flexible tool for getting out of commitments.

Coupled with Dean and JT’s high-paying financial job, the trio has embarked on all sorts of adventures. Any trouble or complications are resolved thanks to “Ricky.” One last attempt to use this perk bites them badly, though, when JT misses the birth of his child. Flailing in an attempt to keep the lie afloat, the trio decide to hire an actor they met on their latest trip. Atlantic City actor Rod (John Cena) is at the end of his rope and desperate for a paying gig. Luckily, his chance encounter with the trio sets up the role of a lifetime. The problem is that it proves so good that Rod refuses to leave the role. A goofy creation, Rod only works through the sheer commitment that John Cena brings to the character. He’s funny, pathetic, and bizarre all at once, with the right blend of vulnerability and silliness to work.

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Why Ricky Stanicky Works

What could just be a straightforward comedic piece — and largely remains one throughout — ends up evolving into something different, however. Ricky’s presence forces Dean and Wes to confront new elements of themselves (even as JT remains locked into his basic comic role). Although they can be abrasive, selfish, and cruel, the characters are never portrayed unsympathetically. Instead, the cast finds surprising touches of humanity that brighten up the characters. Rod/Ricky is a comic engine, but he’s fueled by a quietly earnest and heartfelt performance. It’s genuinely surprising, given how much of the film is dedicated to goofy, crass comedy, just how affecting it can be at times..

This is especially true For Efron. As the film shifts gears and becomes something more quietly dramatic, Efron mines a muted but clearly emotional place for the character. It’s an unexpected turn for the film to take and adds to the unique tonal mishmash of Ricky Stanicky. There are sequences where it goes broad and lets Cena play it big against William H. Macy, only to shift gears and refocus on Dean’s slow-burn growth. It’s weightless at times but never loses sight of the characters. This allows it to retain a silly sense of broad comedy even when delving into character beats.

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Ricky Stanicky‘s Characters Elevate The Basic Comedy

On a technical level, Ricky Stanicky is well-constructed, if uninspired. The true comic vehicle is the performances, driving the gag-heavy script to the limits of the film’s comedic potential. The script — which began life as a Black List-approved screenplay — is best when it mines the characters for dramatic effect. It’s not that the comedy is bad. More than anything, it’s relatively basic but consistently silly. The comedy itself is entertaining if forgettable.

What separates Ricky Stanicky from other comedies is the surprising approach to the characters. A better mix of the two elements may have helped improve the film, as the two disparate elements don’t immediately gel. However, the dramatic ambition of the film is still commendable. It adds an impressive amount of dimension to the characters. Elevated by a cast willing to swing for the fences both comedically and dramatically, Ricky Stanicky works better than one might expect.

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