So, hear me out: In this year of superhero saturation, sequels that didn’t need to be made (and no one wanted to see) and talking animated animals, “Mike and Dave Need Wedding Dates” is one of the best times I’ve had at the movies. Surprised, right? Yeah, you’re not alone. I expected “Mike and Dave” to be yet another ridiculous, unfunny, raunch-fest R-rated comedy. Instead, it’s a better-that-expected and quite entertaining piece of Summertime movie escapism.
As is texted on screen during the opening credits, “M and D” is “Based on a True Story…Sort Of”. The real-life Mike and Dave Stangle, as portrayed by Adam Devine (“Modern Family”, “The Intern”) and Zac Efron, did post an ad on Craigslist looking for dates to a family wedding. The actual wedding was a cousin’s, being held in Saratoga Springs, NY. In the film, the Stangles need dates for their sister Jeanie’s wedding in Hawaii. And practically everything else in the script is also pure fiction – but it doesn’t matter, because most of it works.
The brothers say “How You Doin’?” to Wendy Williams, pitching their date search on her show. Alice (played by Anna Kendrick) and Tatiana (Aubrey Plaza) are a couple of twentysomething party girls, not the type Mike and Dave are looking for (to make their parents and sis happy). But when they see Mike and Dave on TV, they come-up with a plan to fake being “nice girls” to get the free trip. And it works! Soon the girls win over the guys and they’re all off to paradise. What could go wrong?
The script, from the pair of “Neighbors” writers, includes lots of opportunities for big laughs, not just from over-the-top stunts and sexual content, but also some quick one-liners and facial expressions from the cast that poke fun at other rom-coms, including “Wedding Crashers”. There are some crude, tasteless scenes in the second half that degrade the film’s quality, but that’s now the norm with this genre. Thankfully, the entire movie isn’t packed with them (as so many “adult” comedies are).
I honestly had a smile on my face throughout most of “Mike and Dave”, watching four likeable actors (along with some well-written supporting characters) banter-off each other with genuine ease. Devine’s star-power keeps rising, Plaza’s trademark brand of sarcasm is on full display, and Efron and Kendrick’s scenes together are surprisingly and legitimately sweet.
On The Official LCJ Report Card, “Mike and Dave Need Wedding Dates” gets a B-. It’s certainly not the best, nor the smartest comedy of 2016, but in terms of expectations, it may be the biggest overachiever.
Running Time: 98 min.