Movie Information
Release Date: July 08, 2016
Director: Jake Szymanski
Writer: Andrew Jay Cohen, Brendan O’Brien
Cast: Zac Efron, Adam Devine, Anna Kendrick, Aubrey Plaza, Stephen Root, Stephanie Faracy, Sugar Lyn Beard, Sam Richardson, Alice Wetterlund, Lavell Crawford, Mary Holland, Kumail Nanjiani, Jake Johnson, Marc Maron, Erik Griffin, Jake Szymanski, Eugene Cordero, Wendy Williams, Kyle Smigielski, Andrea Miceli, Nancy Miceli, Christina Souza, Olga Kalashnikova
MPAA Rating: R
Runtime: 98 minutes
Production Company: Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation, Chernin Entertainment, TSG Entertainment
Genre: Comedy
Language: English
Country: USA
Budget: $33,000,000
We’ve been to weddings and know they all range high and low from all different types of cultures. So what’s so special about another wedding movie that probably won’t be funny and caters to a group of people I can’t relate to? The honesty in the characters’ behavior is what’s so special. On the surface Mike and Dave Need Wedding Dates could easily be ignored as another yawner that you could catch on television some time down the line, but instead it is a clever piece of art that makes you laugh even more than you ever imagined.
The best part of the movie is how unpredictable it is. While still maintaining some morals, the characters do what they should do for the greater good, but towards the end also do what you want them to do. This is a great way to serve multiple forms of audience members, providing something that’s not usually paramount. I loved American Pie, but was disappointed Jim never slept with Nadia. Jim made the right decision in that film, but it wasn’t at all what you wanted. This film takes care of that same problem in more ways than one. Then it tricks you into thinking you’ve figured out the outcome, but surprises you again with another path of creativity.
I say this film is hilarious because it simply is. You’ll miss some jokes, because you’ll still be laughing at the ones that came before. While the comedy is centered on Mike (Adam Devine) and Dave (Zac Efron), Alice (Anna Kendrick) and Tatiana (Aubrey Plaza) are just as strong with their antics. The relationship between all four of these characters is like a hurricane of entertainment. They all bounce off each other naturally, especially the women. I felt they were actually friends.
As I was viewing the film I realized I had nothing to complain about. The characters were funny, the plot flowed, and I cared about the outcome. Categorizing this among some of the greatest comedies in recent years is acceptable. It’s right up there with Bridesmaids and The Hangover. The only difference that makes those films better is how much I cared about the characters. Yes, I did like the characters in Mike and Dave Need Wedding Dates, but I didn’t care for them as much. While still being funny, their characters were more exaggerated than people in real life.
This film should be, and most likely will be, remembered for a long time. It’s worth noting that a film can still work when embracing all of its immaturities. Similar to a spoof or satire (of which this film is neither), it’s self-aware of exactly what it is, and isn’t afraid to push the envelope. The dialogue and banter between all characters big or small worked on all levels.Each scene is crafted well, and looked over again and again to squeeze out every laugh that’s possible, which is one of the reasoned I loved it.