Mike & Dave really need wedding dates. Read our review of their raunchy comic adventure.
Mike and Dave Stangle are hard-partying real life brothers
from New York City who were faced with a dilemma. In the hopes of keeping them under control
and averting a possible disaster, the brothers were asked by their family to
bring date’s to their cousin’s wedding.
They took their plight to Craigslist and became an instant viral
sensation, eliciting thousands of responses from all over the world. Soon the bros were making the talk show
rounds and signing book and movie deals.
Their story is the basis of the new comedy Mike and Dave Need Wedding Dates.
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| We're all stoned right now. |
Hollywood’s version of Mike and Dave are Adam Devine (Workaholics) and Zac Efron,
respectively. Efron has transitioned
nicely from Disney song-and-dance-man into a raunchy comedy mainstay in the Neighbors films, and he and Devine have
a great natural chemistry together that could easily fool anyone into believing
that they’re flesh-and-blood brothers. Their
fictional dates are played by Devine’s Pitch
Perfect co-star Anna Kendrick and Parks
& Recreation’s Aubrey Plaza. The
two actresses play a bit against type, as perfect female counterparts to the
hard-partying brothers, trying really hard to be good girls to get a free trip
to Hawaii. Kendrick and Plaza match the
boys beat-for-comedy-beat, getting plenty of opportunities to shine on their
own, with their dates, and all together.
Mistakes are made, ruses fail, and the usual hilarity ensues.
Mike and Dave has
no shortage of R-rated laughs, with each of the four leads and the very game
supporting cast rising to the occasion.
It has the feel of a screwball 80’s sex comedy; it’s fun, good spirited,
and just a bit predictable. Unfortunately,
where the film falls short is a lack of genuine heart that makes other films in
the genre (Neighbors, for one) truly
stand out. The moments of redemption are
funny but feel a little bit forced.
They’re sold well by the excellent cast but they never quite overcome
that hollow feeling. The film’s many
funny moments make this easy to overlook temporarily, but aren’t quite enough
to elevate Mike and Dave among the
greats.
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| Dude. This is the best porno ever. |
Mike and Dave Need
Wedding Dates is a film with a lot going for it. The four leads are well-cast and a lot of
fun, and play off of each other nicely.
There are lots of raunchy laughs to be had. But when it’s time to get real, the whole
thing becomes a bit clichéd and the emotion doesn’t quite ring true. Regardless, Mike and Dave are likable guys,
and so is Mike and Dave Need Wedding
Dates, a shallow but wildly entertaining bit of mid-summer fun.
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Score
-Mike Stec