User reviews

Thanks to Cena this movie is a worth a watch. Some of the other actors had a one or two lines that were kind of funny but Cena steals the show proving he can do comedy as well as anyone and certainly better than his wrestling counterpart The Rock. Some of the jokes fall short or even seem a little lame but Cena did a good job keeping this interesting and made me want to keep watching. I will say that Zac Efron wasn't too bad either and he's come along way since that Hairspray movie proving he can do more than just sing. Don't go in with high expectations and you won't be disappointed. 6 stars.

Is this a goofy over the top premise that takes way too much leeway with what our imaginations can do? Yes. Is it funny? Yes. I'm a 90's kid. This is one of those films that I would watch a few times when I rented it at Hollywood Movies. It isn't great, but it's good. It wasn't a waste of my time, and I love the cast. I hope that everyone involved is happy with this product, cause it made me happy.

Obvious problems were mentioned earlier. You have to seriously forget how much tightrope walking that the characters have had to do (their whole lives) to make this whole thing happen.

Good parts are that there is actually well written skits. John Cena is just ham enough to make the second main character and comic relief a true treat. There are jokes fired pretty rapidly if you sit back with this one.

I liked it. If there is a switch in you that can turn off the ultra serious, watch this. If not, stay far away. This isn't an Oscar movie, and no one is Marlon Brando. It's a 6/10 movie.

15 years ago this would have been your average comedy but now in the age of depressive dramedies and unfunny pc comedies it ranks as one of the best...sadly. Finally I got to actually have a few laugh-out-loud moments while watching a comedy instead of crying a few tears during some of the recent horrible comedies.

It has been some 10 years since they released a full length comedy with more than one lol scenes and to be honest this one is not even really that good when compared to the golden age of comedies from the 1980s up until late 2000s. OK, I must admit that Good Boys in 2019 was pretty funny and made for TV mockumentaries Tour de Pharmacy and 7 Days In Hell were really funny but these were huge exceptions. Sad days we live in...

Cena carried this movie on his shoulders, if any other actor played his role the movie would have been much worse. I believe this movie came out like 10/20 years too late, people would have loved this R rated comedy back then. I do not know two of the main 4 actors, and Zach was underwelming in this movie. There were a lot of scenes were his face distracted me and was expresionless, then I realized he had some kind of surgery? Like Erin Moriarty from The Boys?

A scene that I feel came out of nowhere was the dog and duck one. No idea why it happened, and it made me feel bad for the poor dog. Hope the dog actor got some nice treats for it.

It has a few laughs and it's nice to see mid-budget comedies like this being made, yet it unfortunately feels too much like a sub-par rehashing of comedies from the last decade, failing to subvert expectations in the slightest.

Despite advertising an R rating, it lacks any genuine edge and might be one of the few pure comedies that could've benefited from a slight cleanup to get a PG-13 rating, as it's humor and themes feel targeted towards a teenage demographic for the most part. This feels like the type of movie that would have done numbers when Blockbuster was still around, but not sure how it will do in the Streaming Era..

I know this is a dumb movie. I know no one in it is all that great of an actor. I know a lot of people will say it's awful and a waste of time & been there done that but I throughly enjoyed it and laughed quite a bit.

Now while not being the best film obviously it's only a 6/10 but I couldn't help but laugh my butt off anytime John Cena was on screen. The actors had great chemistry also.

Peter Farrelly can sure still make quality comedy films even if they are childish and crude. It's still pretty crazy to think the man who made this film won an Oscar for Best Picture.

All in all I laughed a lot and John Cena is a national treasure. While not great in anyway still a funny movie if you want to laugh check it out.

This movie is not funny, just straight up. The jokes are not funny and the only person who seems to be trying in the entire cast/crew is John cena. He's up for anything and truly the best part by far. I didn't think I'd ever say it but he deserves better cause he's honestly trying.

The rest is a mishmash of other funnier plots and jokes and characters. Lots of them go nowhere and have nothing to do with anything. It was an excuse to do a dumb unfunny gag of some kind then it's over and has no bearing on the previous or next scene. Stuff just kinda happens and then the scene ends.

You can skip this one, even for free it's not worth the time or slogging through...

This won't win awards but the script is actually pretty funny. Towards the end they really spin it into a nice redemption story, it's done well.

Cena is impressive. He truly is a good comedic actor, and his self deprecating humor gives it a nice depth.

I laughed several times.

Was fun to see stand up comedians Andrew Santino and Jeff Ross in there, both on point.

Zac Efron may ironically be the least convincing of all. Not sure what happened to his face but he lost all youthfulness and it was odd to see. He didn't do a bad job though, owing to the whole story hinging on him.

Watch the credits until the end for an epic TikTok video.

To be honest, I hadn't heard anything about this movie so I went into it with zero expectations. I've always been a big Andrew Santino fan so I gave this a shot. Boy am I glad I did! It's down right hilarious! I've never really been a fan of the big tough guy wrestler turned actor.. I.e. John cena, but I have to say: he knocks this one out of the park. Every scene he's in had me laughing until my stomach hurt.

If you came into this expecting a masterpiece, it might not be for you. However, if like me: you didn't know what to expect, you may end up pleasantly surprised. I'll definitely watch it again. Rating: 7/10.

Never thought that I would enjoy seeing John Cena in this raunchy comedy. I felt like he was so at par with other celebrities that oddly fit into this types of characters. His casting was a great decision to the movie because he was hilarious on this one without trying too hard. All the other characters I found a bit lame. I mean, Zac Efron was a bit bizarre to watch now because of his bulky physique that I wished he would fit into more dramatic and action roles than this one. All the other performances were lame and forgettable, and it felt like the writer was just filling-in scenes just to make the film longer.

These days, comedies like this are hard to come by. So, if you are looking for a comedy, anything that's a six and above is usually pretty good and worth your time. The movie is plain and simple, and it knows its boundaries. It doesn't try hard and go corny nor does it seem to be carelessly written. And boy did I have a few lol moments that I didn't expect, at all.

The story is about 3 friends but the star that took over was John Cena, this charismatic actor is better as a comedian than his previous image as a serious action star given that the dude is muscle bound. However, his physique actually works for him unlike The Rock. Cena has found his niche, and I didn't even like his wrestling character. I did saw his comedic potential years back when I saw the movie he was in "The Wall".

Anyway, this movie would have sucked if it wasn't for John Cena, and I know it sounds like I'm kissing his behind but wait till you see the movie because the 3 other "stars" weren't good and kind of bad actually. They have no depth and personality. Maybe if they had better lines or something the movie would have turned out better. Were their characters supposed to be normal bland people, maybe?

If you don't really care about the plot of a movie and just want to laugh and forget your worries this was a fun time. Definitely cementing Cena further in comedy for me. The plot was super thin to me and I decided not to worry about it and have a good time. Honestly, the most diverse cast i have ever seen in a movie. I feel like everyone was represented and with no fanfare. They were jut there and everything was normal. I did not expect that from a comedy with this level of masturbation jokes. Genuinely at points you would forget the rest of the cast was there. Not, because they weren't also good but, because John Cena was great.

Was excited to watch 'Stanicky' and then the beginning had me fearing I was wrong. "Oh no.. another frat-like outdated comedy" I thought. But to give it a fair shake we kept watching, and found ourselves laughing a witty lines, an unlikely hero, and all around oddly heartwarming flick. A fun watch with a completely open mind. I would say it's definitely a college age comedy, but it bold it in subject matter to take in a rather ludicrous premise. This could have easily been a hard flop, but it was decent with a relentless lean into comedy with John Cena. I have to applaud his commitment to comedy.

What do you get when you have an idea and no barrier to stop it?

This is another horrible movie that doesn't add to humor but bad behavior being rewarded.

John Cena attempts at humor come off as raunchy and drops the ball completely.

Zac Efron comes off of Iron Claw to this horrible mess. And the rest of the cast wastes the audiences time and further adds to terrible actors and actresses.

The whole premise is an imaginary friend coming to light is brilliant but the execution of this is crap.

There is no redeemable factors of this movie. It's acting and comedy are just people behaving badly and someone filmed it.

Unfortunately, this is the direction of comedy. We don't get funny but stupidity, raunchiness and debauchery that isn't entertaining to anyone involved.

Ricky Stanicky is a fun movie to watch, if you want to sit back, relax, laugh out loud without being challenged with any complex plots.

The plot is fairly unique, but seems all to familiar with the number of goofy and cringeworthy scenes throughout this movie.

To me the overall quality of the acting was just good enough, but thankfully Ricky was able to deliver a standout performance, which based on his character was somewhat of an achievement.

John Cena playing Ricky saved this movie, and although he can be a little typecast in his roles, he actually delivers a great performance here.

Lets not kid ourselves, this movie is not going to achieve any awards, but what it does is deliver light hearted comedy with a feel good factor thrown in.

If you take this movie for what it is, you will be entertained, just don't expect much more.

This movie is an abomination. May be some of the worst writing and acting I have seen in a long time. Dont get me wrong, I love me some Cena, Santino, Macy and Effron, but this movie is just not it.

The plot is so farfetched to begin with and the redemption arc at the end is so delusional. The movie itself has cringey humor and really is not very funny. Not sure who their demographic was on this one, but its a big miss. I tried watching in on numetous occasions and had to force myself to finish. It feels like hollywood is scraping the bottom of barrel with this crappy writing, awful narrative, bad acting and weird humor. Take my advice and skip this one.

Director Peter Farrelly reverts to his silly edgy comedy base with "Ricky Stanicky" - which COULDA flunked but for some great one-liners (from Farrelly & five co-writers) and John Cena being on fire. Three pre-teen pals make-up the titular 'friend' to blame shenanigans on... continuing to do so as adults Zac Efron, Andrew Santino & Jermaine Fowler (inc to their boss William H Macy) - but when cornered into needing him to show at a family event, they have drunk Atlantic City 'adult entertainer' Cena play him... and events escalate! It's low-brow fare with flat moments, but particularly when Cena's on-screen the ol' laugh-out-loud Farrelly magic is there. Very funny stuff.

It's a fun movie to watch with your girlfriend on a Saturday night. Even though is not memorable, John Cena steals the show. He's got great timing and delivery. I always thought his comedic work wasn't the best, but he proved me wrong this time. The guy can do comedy, and very very well.

The key here is low expectations. I'm a huge Bill Macy fan from this work on Shameless. Also, Zac Efron has been doing some great work, specially with Iron Claw. I imagine some people might be disappointed by these roles they picked, but again, low expectations is key. This is the John Cena show, and he excels at that, while the rest of the cast work as a platform for him to shine.

Don't take it too seriously, just enjoy it for what it is .

The decline of comedy movies is glaringly evident in 'Ricky Stanicky,' a prime example of the genre's current predicament. This film is devoid of laughter; its attempts at humor fall flat. John Cena's once formidable presence now seems weathered and ineffective, hinting at a looming departure from the industry's spotlight. Yet, it's regrettable to see his undeniable talent obscured by the glaring inadequacies of a lackluster supporting cast and crew, seemingly adrift in the tumult of their own production. As Cena grapples with the challenges of evolving in an ever-changing landscape, the shortcomings of those around him only serve to exacerbate the situation, leaving his potential overshadowed and his contributions undervalued. It's a disheartening spectacle, witnessing a performer of Cena's caliber struggle amidst the mediocrity that surrounds him, raising concerns about his future trajectory in an industry that demands nothing short of excellence.

Zac Efron's inclusion feels like a throwback to an era of superficiality, his portrayal lacking the depth and authenticity required to breathe life into his character. His performance is akin to a digitally altered image, devoid of charm and genuine talent. Meanwhile, the supporting ensemble delivers performances ranging from wooden to cringe-worthy, further diminishing any hope for the film's success.

The plot meanders aimlessly, with disjointed gags and characters that contribute little to the overarching narrative. Scenes transition without cohesion, leaving viewers puzzled and detached from the story. 'Ricky Stanicky' squanders its potential, serving as a disorganized collection of unfunny moments that fail to elicit even a chuckle. Even as a free offering, enduring this laborious slog is an exercise in futility best avoided altogether. Time to unsubscribe Amazon prime.

'Ricky Stanicky (2024)' is a bit of an oxymoron, in that it's somehow both exactly what you expect and way better than you'd think it would be. Peter Farrelly's latest comedy is about three best friends who have been lying about a supposed fourth since childhood in order to get out of trouble by scapegoating the imaginary rascal or get some time away from their families by saying they're going to see him. When the time comes for the fake friend to finally show up to a family function, the trio hire a down-on-his-luck actor - who moonlights in Las Vegas as a crude parody lyricist - to step into the impossibly big boots of the eponymous Ricky Stanicky. Luckily for them, the guy's feet are plenty big enough - both because he's played by the enormous John Cena and because he's somehow the best, yet most overlooked method actor in the entire world. The film isn't hilarious, but it has its fair share of funny moments. Although not all of the jokes land, or even seem appropriate, most of them are decent enough to keep you entertained even when you aren't chuckling. The feature also has a somewhat strong emotional core, even if the way everything wraps up kind of undercuts it and a lot of the narrative could play as a horror if the tone was tweaked just slightly. It's an oddly paced experience, though, that feels really front-loaded. There's a lot of interesting stuff in the back half - or, rather, the potential for interesting stuff - that gets completely overlooked because of how fast the flick needs to speed towards its climax after spending so long on Stanicky's first real-life appearance. Unfortunately, it totally whiffs its third act, too. Not only does it do everything it can to excuse and absolve the bad behaviour of its heroes (a problem with a lot of male-driven comedy), most of it is dedicated to a boring news broadcast that doesn't even tell us anything we don't already know. It's a bizarre choice that really takes the steam out of the affair. To be honest, it lands with a total thud. Thankfully, the first two acts are a lot better. They're not great, and they're as generic as they come, but they're enjoyable enough. It helps that the performances are pretty solid across the board, with Zac Efron comfortably slipping back into a comedic role after his excellent dramatic work in 'The Iron Claw (2023)' (which is on another level to this, obviously) and John Cena continuing to charm with his particular brand of bumbling innocence. Ultimately, this is total fluff that lacks any real bite, but it's far more pleasant than you'd expect it to be. It's entertaining enough for what it is, despite its weak third act and general complacency, and it's often fairly amusing. It's a surprisingly solid effort.

Warning: Ricky Stanicky contains scenes of graphic stupidity among 3 lifelong friends (and 1 you can't see) who compete to embarrass themselves by lying to literally everyone.

After a grade school prank gone horribly wrong, Ricky Stanicky is born. 20 years later, he becomes the best friend you never had... until he comes to life in the form of a skirt wearing fruity pebble named "Rock Hard" Rod aka John Cena.

What transpires next is a series of hilarious events that leads to the attitude adjustment of a lifetime for Dean, JT, and Wes as they rediscover the meaning of life and friendship.

Come for Zac Efron, pop for the tip snipping Jeff Ross, but stay for John Cena in his best role to date. 7/10.

Ricky Stanicky is a comedy that's undermined by its excessive length. The major luls between laughs probably wouldn't be as noticeable if it wasn't closing in on a two hour run time but just like the central trio in the film, it's saved by John Cena and his unwavering commitment. Pretty much every laugh comes from him and each one is funny enough to sustain it in between them.

Zac Efron, Jermaine Fowler, and Andrew Santino do a good job of getting the plot going whilst overcoming how unlikeable their characters initially are. John Cena is everything this film needs, especially because of how fearless he is and his God given comedic talents. Every parody song is a highlight and the outfits that accompany them only cements that he's not scared of humiliating himself for a good joke.

Director Peter Farrelly reaffirms that he's still more than willing to indulge in his old school grotesque sensibilities with a well intentioned warmth deep down, even if he's somehow an Oscar winning filmmaker now. The grossest joke comes at the very start and after that Farrelly is solely relying on Cena to deliver with every single joke that lands involving him in some way, shape or form.