MIKE & NICK & NICK & ALICE
Starring: Vince Vaughn, James Marsden, Eiza González, Keith David, Jimmy Tatro, Ben Schwartz, and Stephen Root
Director: BenDavid Grabinski
NICK
Who knew Vince Vaughn’s ideal scene partner would be… Vince Vaughn? Well, Mike & Nick & Nick & Alice brings that idea to life as Vaughn pulls double duty alongside the always delightful James Marsden. The “trio” provides plenty of laughs to counter the violence and mayhem littered throughout this R-rated comedy. Bolstered by an entertaining supporting cast including Keith David, Jimmy Tatro, Stephen Root, and Alice herself, Eiza González, this is a crowd-pleasing comedy that would greatly benefit from the shared experience of an audience. Unfortunately, as with many modern comedies, this is headed straight to streaming and will miss out on that opportunity.
ROBERT
It’s hard to make time travel fresh or innovative as a plot device, so making it seem benign as part of the joke of a film is deft handling. Mike & Nick & Nick & Alice figures out how to make two Vince Vaughns seem almost normal in a trumped-up gangster world; that ubiquitous feeling, along with the interplay of all the relationships, is its strength. The cast helps make up for some odd aesthetic choices, especially with guys like Vaughn and Keith David attempting action scenes. You won’t feel the need to erase this from your existing timeline, unless you hate laughter.
PAIGE
Mike & Nick & Nick & Alice is a cheesy yet entertaining action-comedy that feels like a throwback to the ’90s and early 2000s. Its tongue-in-cheek humor elevates the flick despite its lackluster premise. The time travel piece adds an element of intrigue to try to set itself apart, but that motive ultimately lacks the energy needed to leave a lasting impression. That said, the trio here (Vince Vaughn, James Marsden, and Eiza González) at least have great chemistry. Overall, it’s not a bad watch as it remained enjoyable even through its somewhat generic aspects.
BODE
A straight-to-streaming sci-fi action comedy like Mike & Nick & Nick & Alice is probably the last place where you’d expect multiple uses of the step-printing filmmaking effect, popularized by the great Wong Kar-wai. But it’s only one example of how writer-director BenDavid Grabinski constantly toys with expectations as to how this amusingly violent time-hopping tale plays out. And credit to him and his cast full of likeable players (including a hysterical Jimmy Tatro), I was consistently engaged. Not everything about it works, but it’s a big swing that I probably won’t look back in anger on. If you know, you know.
KATIE
Mike & Nick & Nick & Alice is a generally entertaining action comedy with a fun twist, but it's held back by some questionable stylistic choices and confusing use of music. Vince Vaughn plays to his strengths in the lead dual role, working well across from the charming James Marsden, and Jimmy Tatro made me laugh out loud on more than one occasion. However, a slow motion effect is employed frequently and with seemingly no motivation, so it's more distracting than creative, and most of the needle drops felt unnatural and unsuited to the scene.
