Featured, Movie Reviews

‘Vacation Friends’ Review – Cena and Howery are a Dynamite Comedic Duo

Synopsis:

In this raw and raunchy comedy, straight-laced Marcus and Emily (Lil Rel Howery, Yvonne Orji) are befriended by wild, thrill-seeking partiers Ron and Kyla (John Cena, Meredith Hagner) at a resort in Mexico. Living in the moment, the usually level-headed couple lets loose to enjoy a week of uninhibited fun and debauchery with their new “vacation friends.” Months after their walk on the wild side, Marcus and Emily are horrified when Ron and Kyla show up uninvited at their wedding, creating chaos and proving that what happens on vacation, doesn’t necessarily stay on vacation.

Have you ever gotten really inebriated, had a wild night of shenanigans, and then woke up the next morning attempting to put the pieces of the night back together and vaguely remembering that you fought with a statue, shared a hotdog with a raccoon, fell down a flight of steps, and peed your pants? Yeah, uh, me neither. Wild nights are bound to happen at some point in life, especially if you partake in certain substances with your buddies. Now, it’s one thing to party with your friends at a place that you’re familiar with but what about those times with strangers when you’re out of town or out of the country? Your subconscious reminds you of what happened in movies like Hostel or Turistas, but on the other hand Dude, Where’s My Car? and The Hangover seemingly ended well, right? Either way, be safe, make decent decisions, make memories, and make sure you bring extra pants. Oh, and condoms because what happens there, might not always stay there.

“Everything you touch turn into drugs!”

Grab a margarita, your drug of choice, and prepare to take a trip, pun intended, in Clay Tarver’s Vacation Friends. This movie is a hilariously chaotic ride from beginning to end. Just when you needed that break from reality, a movie comes along with mischief in its eyes and gives you exactly what you need, a good time. There’s no overthinking, no dissecting, just pure debauchery for you to sit back and enjoy. Not to mention, John Cena and Lil Rel Howery are a dynamite comedic duo. The movie starts off by giving you a gentle hug before shoving you in a pool full of alcohol and cocaine, and you can’t help but smile and laugh. The setting is beautiful, the chemistry is electric, and the comedy is genuinely funny. One of the most amusing aspects of the movie is plucked right out of reality, a reality my friends and I definitely relate to. That is the out-of-place situation Marcus (Lil Rel Howery) finds himself in, and all he and people like me can think is, this is some white people shit. And that dynamic is part of what makes their chemistry so humorous and pleasant to watch blossom. There’s also a secret that is lingering throughout the story that comes out at the worst time and could bond them forever.

Drugs and jokes aside, the story is also full of heart and real moments. Its themes range from friendship to acceptance, the crux of the messaging revolves around going with the flow. I find it to be a great message and kind of how I live my life. And that is not the last of the relatable aspects of this story. Much of what unfolds is relatable to many people and on multiple levels. Now, some of the story may be predictable or feel as if it’s been done before, but it doesn’t take away any of the honest hilarity. If I had to compare the feel of this film to another, it would be Central Intelligence with Dwayne Johnson and Kevin Hart and its disruptive contrast of two very different people. But sometimes the most disruptive things in life can be the most beneficial. I had a great time with Vacation Friends and I know you will too, it’s highly entertaining. Its rewatchability is high.

Pacing & Pop

The film moves at a great pace in the first act. There’s craziness at every turn and we get a clear depiction as to who the characters are. From then on, the pacing slows down just a bit, however, the hijinks do now. What really popped for me was the chemistry between Lil Rel Howery and John Cena. They are a pairing that I never saw coming but it works very well. They should definitely do more things together.

Characters & Chemistry

I said it previously, but the chemistry of this cast is fantastic. The comedic timing between John Cena and Lil Rel Howery, the untamed and unpredictable free spirit that is Meredith Hagner’s Kyla, and the balanced yet down for anything nature of Yvonne Orji’s Emily make for a fun time. The contrast between Marcus (Lil Rel Howery) being an uptight planner type with a smaller stature and Ron (John Cena) being a hulking high-intensity bag of tricks is entertaining in itself. And Andrew Bachelor finally doesn’t die in a movie. This cast did a great job

Vacation Friends premieres on August 27th in the US on Hulu and on Star, on Disney Plus internationally. Stay safe and enjoy.