Hulu’s Mike & Nick & Nick & Alice is the type of comedy that is utterly full of itself, thinking it is smarter than it is and certainly not as creative. For one, the setup asks the audience to simply trust whatever is happening in the plot and buy into the brand of nonsense it lays out. Fine, let’s say we can accept the time-travel aspect, like Back to the Future, Palm Springs, or, more appropriately, Hot Tub Time Machine.
However, the streaming film Mike & Nick & Nick & Alice rides on the coattails of Vince Vaughn’s considerable, what the kids call, “rizz,” which is so effective it almost saves the film, thanks to his self-assured charm and easygoing confidence that makes men want to be him and women want to be with him (or vice versa). Then add a sprinkle of Gilmore Girls references, some chemistry between two likable leads, and you have a winner on your hands.
Except, you don’t. That’s because writer-director BenDavid Grabinski (Happily) takes a one-note premise and fails to capitalize on it, largely because it’s too flimsy to begin with. The script is a hollow, diversionary red herring. Its own laziness is unable to sustain even a veneer of Vince Vaughn’s charm or the two leads’ considerable good looks. Throw in some inane action sequences in the finale, and you have a film that collapses under the weight of its own faux cleverness.
The story follows “Quick Draw” Mike (Paradise’s James Marsden), a member of a criminal organization run by Sosa (Keith David), who attends a party for Jimmy Boy (American Vandal’s Jimmy Tatro), freshly released from prison. Mike’s partner in, ugh, crime, Nick (Vaughn), a notorious and successful loan shark, is also in attendance. It’s meant to be one of the last times Mike sees his crew before walking away from life.
To complicate matters, it becomes clear that his wife, Alice (Baby Driver’s Eiza González), is having an affair with Mike, and the two plan to meet in a hotel room later. While Mike is getting the room ready for a night of romance, Nick knocks on the door. Changed out of his suit and into comfortable clothes, he asks Mike to join him for a bite to eat. Somehow, Nick knows Mike is ready to call it quits and asks him to go along for one last ride.
What does Nick want Mike to do? Go knock on a door and, as soon as it opens, press a rag soaked in chloroform over the face of whoever answers. In the meantime, Nick will drive around the block and signal him when the job is done. Well, imagine Quick Draw’s surprise when it’s Nick who opens the door. A fight ensues, fists are thrown, glass is broken, and the night for Mike is only going to get weirder from there.
Each act of Mike & Nick & Nick & Alice contains a plot hole or narrative beat that just bugs me (and should bug you). For one, Mike and Nick are partners, right? And Mike is sleeping with Alice, right? So when they arrive at Nick’s house to abduct him, how does Mike not realize he’s at Nick’s home? Then there’s the useless red herring involving Stephen Root, which is completely pointless and just pure filler.
Then, the third act abandons any so-called creative genius for a series of generic action scenes. In addition, a corrupt cop (Emily Hampshire) on the take walks freely through a mobster’s home, hiding dozens of weapons while others watch her do it. Not only is it head-scratching, it drains any sense of suspense, since you know that if Vince Vaughn or James Marsden ends up near a pool table, but there’s a machine gun duct-taped underneath.
Mike & Nick & Nick & Alice simply never catch fire, leaving a promising premise smoldering with little payoff. The funniest moments, mainly involving the hilarious Jimmy Tatro, are too few and far between. Vince Vaughn’s charm nearly saves the film, but it can’t mask just how flimsy the plot ultimately is. And aside from some clever touches, like the debate over Rory’s best boyfriend in that heartfelt dramedy, the script’s lack of basic logic and penchant for sudden, graphic violence undercuts its more obvious charms, which quickly wear thin.
You can stream Mike & Nick & Nick & Alice! exclusively on Hulu starting March 27th!
A slick premise undone by a flimsy script, Mike & Nick & Nick & Alice leans heavily on Vince Vaughn’s charm but ultimately collapses under weak logic, scattered laughs, and a lack of creative follow-through.
I am a film and television critic and a proud member of the Las Vegas Film Critic Society, Critics Choice Association, and a 🍅 Rotten Tomatoes/Tomato meter approved. However, I still put on my pants one leg at a time, and that’s when I often stumble over. When I’m not writing about movies, I patiently wait for the next Pearl Jam album and pass the time by scratching my wife’s back on Sunday afternoons while she watches endless reruns of California Dreams. I was proclaimed the smartest reviewer alive by actor Jason Isaacs, but I chose to ignore his obvious sarcasm. You can also find my work on InSession Film, Ready Steady Cut, Hidden Remote, Music City Drive-In, Nerd Alert, and Film Focus Online.
