Posts Tagged ‘Peter Farrelly’

YOU TUBE: THREE MOVIES/THIRTY SECONDS! FAST REVIEWS FOR BUSY PEOPLE!

Fast reviews for busy people! Watch as I review three movies in less time than it takes to slam the door! Have a look as I race against the clock to tell you about the sweet natured “Kung Fu Panda 4,” and two about imaginary friends, “the horror film “Imaginary” and Prime Video’s “Ricky Stanicky.”

Watch the whole thing HERE!

NEWSTALK TONIGHT WITH JIM RICHARDS: DOES RICHARD CROUSE LIKE THESE MOVIES?

I sit in with NewsTalk 1010 host Jim Richards on the coast-to-coast-to-coast late night “NewsTalk Tonight” to play the game “Did Richard Crouse Like This?” This week we talk about the sweet natured “Kung Fu Panda 4,” and two about imaginary friends, “the horror film “Imaginary” and Prime Video’s “Ricky Stanicky.”

Watch the whole thing HERE!

 

CTV NEWS TORONTO AT FIVE WITH ZURAIDAH ALMAN: RICHARD ON WHAT TO WATCH!

I join “CTV News Toronto at Five” with host Natalie Johnson, to talk about the sweet natured “Kung Fu Panda 4,” and two about imaginary friends, “the horror film “Imaginary” and Prime Video’s “Ricky Stanicky.”

Watch the whole thing HERE! (Starts at 15:53)

RICHARD’S CTV NEWSCHANNEL WEEKEND REVIEWS FOR FRIDAY MARCH 8, 2024!

I join CTV NewsChannel anchor Renee Rogers to talk about the sweet natured “Kung Fu Panda 4,” and two about imaginary friends, “the horror film “Imaginary” and Prime Video’s “Ricky Stanicky.”

Watch the whole thing HERE!

CKTB NIAGARA REGION: THE TIM DENIS SHOW WITH RICHARD CROUSE ON MOVIES!

I sit in with CKTB morning show host Tim Denis to have a look at the sweet natured “Kung Fu Panda 4,” and two about imaginary friends, “the horror film “Imaginary” and Prime Video’s “Ricky Stanicky.”

Listen to the whole thing HERE!

CFRA IN OTTAWA: THE BILL CARROLL MORNING SHOW MOVIE REVIEWS!

I sit in on the CFRA Ottawa morning show with host Bill Carroll to talk the new movies coming to theatres and streaming including the sweet natured “Kung Fu Panda 4,” and two about imaginary friends, “the horror film “Imaginary” and Prime Video’s “Ricky Stanicky.”

Listen to the whole thing HERE!

RICKY STANICKY: 2 ½ STARS. “light on laughs but heavy on heart.”

“Ricky Stanicky,” a new feel-good comedy from director Peter Farrelly, starring Zac Efron, Andrew Santino, John Cena and Jermaine Fowler, and now streaming on Amazon Prime, is light on laughs but heavy on heart.

Ever since they were kids, best friends Dean, JT, and Wes (Efron, Santino and Fowler) have used a fictional friend named Ricky Stanicky as a fall guy for their hijinks. Even though he doesn’t exist, he’s been their alibi forever. They’ve used him as an excuse to go on guy’s weekends to Atlantic City, or catch a concert, and then blame him for anything that went wrong. “The best friend we never had,” says Dean.

But when Dean ups the ante and announces to his wife that Ricky has cancer, and the guys need to see him, Wes thinks they may have taken the ruse a bit too far.

“Why does it have to be cancer?” he asks. “You want everyone to get worried?”

“Yeah,” Dean says. “And that’s going to take us right into the World Series.”

When the boys split town, Dean’s wife (Lex Scott Davis) tries to track them down, only to discover there is no record of a Ricky Stanicky at any hospital anywhere.

Caught in their lifelong lie, they panic.

“If the truth does come out,” says JT, “my marriage is over.”

The plan to hire an actor to play Ricky leads them to Rock hard Rod (Cena), an X-rated rock and roll impersonator, who immediately ingratiates himself with their significant others and their boss Summerhayes (William H. Macy).

“Ricky Stanicky” has the earmarks of a Farrelly film; the outrageous premise, the jokes that come very close to the line and broad comedic performances (ie: John Cena dressed like “Baby One More Time” era Britney Spears). But underneath the silly stuff is an almost touching story about a man who finds a new way to get through life.

“My job sucked,” Ricky/Rod says. “I had no friends. But now I have all those things.”

It’s the same kind of subterfuge the Farrellys played with “There’s Something About Mary,” a gross-out comedy about finding true love. “Ricky Stanicky” doesn’t have the hard laughs of that film, but, in Cena, it does have a star who is able to effectively mix-and-match the silly with the saccharine. That combo is the key to the modest success of “Ricky Stanicky.”

It’s a shame Cena isn’t given a more convincing framework to play inside. The premise has lots of potential, but Farrelly and his laundry list of writers (five listed in the credits including Farrelly) emphasize the Hallmark aspects of the story over the humorous ones.

There’s something about “Ricky Stanicky.” There’s a good cast, bolstered by Cena’s charm, and the occasional deep laugh but the mix of humour and heart never quite finds the right balance.

CTV NEWS AT SIX: NEW MOVIES AND TV SHOWS TO CHECK OUT THIS WEEKEND!

I appear on “CTV News at 6” with anchor Andria Case to talk about the best movies and television to watch this weekend. This week I have a look at Billy Eichner’s LGBTQ2+ rom com “Bros,” the Vietnam story “The Greatest Beer Run Ever” and the Halloween reboot “Hocus Pocus 2.”

Watch the whole thing HERE! (Starts at 38:01)

RICHARD’S WEEKEND MOVIE REVIEWS FROM CP24! FRIDAY SEPT 30, 2022.

I joined CP24 to have a look at new movies coming to VOD, streaming services and theatres.  Today we talk about Billy Eichner’s LGBTQ2+ rom com “Bros,” the Vietnam story “The Greatest Beer Run Ever,” the creepy psychological horror film “Smile” and the Halloween reboot “Hocus Pocus 2.”

Watch the whole thing HERE!