Ricky Stanicky Review: Zac Efron & John Cena Feel At Home In Raunchy, Heartfelt Prime Video Comedy

Ricky Stanicky sees Zac Efron team up with director Peter Farrelly for another comedy after their 2022 war film The Greatest Beer Run Ever. While the setting for the two movies could not be any more different, the pair’s second collaboration retains the heart and humor of their first cinematic outing. Ricky Stanicky is equal parts a raunchy comedy, with moments that should remind Efron fans of his Neighbors-era films, and a genuinely heartfelt “bro-movie” with emotional scenes sprinkled throughout to anchor its most unbelievable sequences.

Ricky Stanicky follows three friends, who create an imaginary friend as children to shield themselves from their various misdeeds.

Pros

• Ricky Stanicky balances its raunchiness with emotional moments nicely
• Zac Efron’s comedy return shows how good he is in the genre
• John Cena’s performance is the right amount of unpredictable

Cons

• The movie could have taken more risks

Ricky Stanicky centers on three friends: Dean (Zac Efron), JT (Andrew Santino), and Wes (Jermaine Fowler). Best friends since childhood, the trio created a fictional friend — Ricky Stanicky — to blame for whatever trouble they got themselves into. As the years went by, they started families and new jobs but never let go of Stanicky, using the lie to allow them to do whatever they wanted. One day, they are pressured by their families into finally introducing Stanicky, turning to celebrity impersonator “Rock Hard” Rod (John Cena) to pretend to be Ricky, which leads to all kinds of trouble.

Ricky Stanicky Balances Over-The-Top Comedy With Emotion

The movie has an interesting premise, with the 20-year lie about Ricky Stanicky’s existence offering plenty of opportunities for hilarious situations. Farrelly is able to mix different tones, with the movie’s opening flashback feeling like something out of Good Boys, setting up the relationship Efron’s character and the rest of his friends would have in the future nicely. Present-day events vary from hilariously over-the-top sequences to dramatic character-driven moments that help anchor Ricky Stanicky‘s more out-there comedic elements.

It is that combination that makes the film a worthwhile watch. The movie often hits with its comedy, with jokes landing from different places. Ricky Stanicky is able to make you laugh with truly absurd moments, the raunchy bits provided by Cena’s excellent character turns, and the increasing distress in Efron’s face as the trio begins to get more and more pressured by their decades-long lie.

The film’s comedy keeps us entertained, but the movie’s slower moments allow us to really connect with the characters. While the film thrives on the absurd, hard-hitting topics like alcoholism and child abuse are used effectively to paint a full picture of characters that might otherwise have been one-dimensional in another movie. That aspect helps ground the movie’s narrative and explain why certain characters act the way that they do, making Ricky Stanicky more than just another raunchy comedy.

Zac Efron & John Cena Lead A Strong Cast

Ricky Stanicky makes great use of its actors.

Zac Efron has proven himself to be a star in a wide variety of genres. Recently, the actor delivered what might have been a career-best performance in the wrestling drama The Iron Claw. Ricky Stanicky sees Efron returning to the realm of comedy he’s dominated throughout most of his post-High School Musical career. Here, however, he is not in charge of the movie’s raunchiest bits, instead playing the straight man to Cena’s wild performance as Stanicky. It’s a nice change of pace for the actor, with Efron delivering plenty of humor and heart as Dean.

Dean’s dynamic with friends JT and Wes is entertaining to watch. Santino is part of some of the movie’s funniest scenes, while Fowler has a particularly heartwarming scene with Cena that helps set up Rod as a central figure in the trio’s life as he embarks on the journey of becoming their fake childhood friend. Ricky Stanicky‘s supporting cast is also great, with William H. Macy delivering a particularly hilarious performance as Dean and JT’s boss, Ted Summerhayes.

While Efron’s Dean is a nice lead, it is Cena’s Rod/Stanicky that truly makes the movie what it is. Ever since his performance as Christopher Smith in DC’s superhero series Peacemaker, it seems like Cena has found his style. The actor excels at delivering the film’s raunchiest moments while also being the movie’s beating heart, with his performance perfectly crafting a surprising finale that is earned. Stanicky is a character to cheer for, and Cena’s energy in the role makes Ricky Stanicky an entertaining watch with some surprising depth to it.