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Ricky Stanicky (2024)

2024 • 1h 52m • Comedy • R
On September 22, 2026
#3037510
3037th by Pulse movie online
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TheSceneSnobs on Ricky Stanicky

1/10 · Jul 9, 2024

I was looking forward to seeing this movie because of the actors involved, but ultimately it didn’t work out well. The only performance that really stood out was from John Cena; he seemed completely invested in his role and injected some much-needed life into the film. The central characters are portrayed as people who treat those around them badly. The filmmakers tried to explain the protagonist's behavior by revealing a history of abuse later on, but it felt like an artificial attempt to get the audience to feel sorry for him and overlook his dishonesty and mistreatment. For example, there’s no hint of this past trauma until the plot requires it, which makes the reveal seem contrived and unconvincing. The way they tried to use a childhood trauma as justification for the protagonist's actions was clumsy and tasteless. The movie doesn’t offer a thoughtful look at how someone might realistically be affected by abuse; instead, it uses this element simply to excuse his otherwise unacceptable behavior. John Cena’s performance is what keeps the film from being completely bad. He brought an intensity and charm to his part that was missing from everyone else. His commitment provided some genuinely entertaining moments in a movie that's mostly frustrating. The story and writing are subpar, failing to craft a unified or captivating storyline. The characters’ actions often seem illogical, and the plot feels disconnected. It seems like the writers thought that simply mentioning a character’s difficult past would automatically make them sympathetic, but without proper development and background, this approach doesn't work. What’s worse, it isn’t even funny. Despite having a group of talented actors, this film is disappointing. The poorly handled story, unpleasant characters, and superficial attempts at emotional depth make it hard to sit through. John Cena’s performance is a welcome highlight, but it’s not enough to overcome the movie's basic problems. To create a better film, the writers would have to concentrate on developing believable character journeys and a more sensible plot. As it is now, the film doesn’t live up to what it could have been and falls short in many ways.

Source on TMDB