It just shows the power of advertising. I saw the latest trailer for Mike and Dave need wedding dates a few days prior to the screening. I can honestly say that it was bad. It didn’t come across as being funny or entertaining and the jokes fell flat. It gave the impression that the film would be just the same. So it came as something of a surprise to find that the film was so much better than I initially anticipated.
Mike and Dave are twenty-something brothers who live the batchelor lifestyle to the full. They consider themselves the party animals of their family. Unfortunately their parents have another idea. Their sister is getting married in Hawaii and the boys are told in no uncertain terms that they are expected to behave. In order to achieve this they are instructed that dates are required and they have to be nice girls. So the search begins with an advert on Craigslist. Two young ladies looking for a holiday make their way into the company of the boys under false pretences and are subsequently asked to go to the wedding.
What was surprising about this was the hit rate of the comedic moments. No scene fell flat. This was due to a combination of factors. The film takes the Paul Feig comedies, particularly Bridesmaids, for its cue. It is rated 15 (in the UK) and is full of crude language, drug taking and themes that are very much of an adult nature. This allows the film makers to push the boundaries of taste. There is little restraint on show and the cast of characters is shown with their flaws and foibles.
The writing and story are tight with each joke honed to perfection. It is a balancing act getting it just right with comedy and the film achieves that through the writing, the direction and the cast. There are a lot of funny set pieces but there is space in between which allows the audience to catch up. A couple of running gags other than the main one of the boys being total screw ups keeps the film flowing as well. It is the strength of the characters, even the relatively minor ones, that make the scenes. Each character is vital to the comedy and at no point do you get a sense that someone is there just to provide a funny face of a recurring catchphrase.
Zac Efron and Adam Devine are rather splendid in the title roles. They have an easy, laid back relationship about them that translates very well on the screen. You can tell there was a bit of their scenes together (confirmed in the end credits) which works well. They riff off of each other leading to some humorous exchanges. Efron in particular is starting to take on some interesting roles. Not all of them have worked but he is pushing himself which can only be a good thing.
The other stand out performance is Aubrey Plaza. We already know how talented Anna Kendrick is but Plaza is a revelation here. She has taken on the role of the seriously screwed up party animal, Tatiana and taken her to the max. She gets some of the best lines and steals just about every scene she is in. Again, as with the male leads, it is a matter of chemistry. Plaza and Kendrick have a great rapport and their interactions feel natural.
Overall, a surprisingly funny movie with a lot of comedic talent on screen. Recommended.
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