IR Film Review: MIKE & NICK & NICK & ALICE [20th Century Studios/Hulu]
The intention of high concept depends on the texture of camp and stakes that play into the function of the story. With "Mike & Nick & Nick & Alice", the approach, especially with a time machine construct (listed right out front), panders a little bit to an overt level of silliness which is not helped by the ancillary characters. While the cast involved do their best and try to make the progression of culture relevant, the silliness outweighs the coolness despite some great moments (specifically with Vince Vaughn who plays the two Nicks). Like "Good Luck Have Fun Don't Die" which was also likely made independently as an acquisition, director/writer BenDavid Grabinski tries to do something fun and reminiscent of the 80s structure but "Good Luck" did it so much better because you really felt for what happens in that movie at the end despite the actions that transpired. The only thing that damaged that film was one conceptual edit that would have been corrected in a studio setting but wasn't. "Nick & Nick" does something similar with the duo of the two Nicks at one point that really works. But it is too much bedlam without any real reason. It is more for the fun of it...and that is fine...but it doesn't work for the characters (with the exception to a point of Nick). The superstructure that holds it together is about a rat and an old friend that becomes the target of that. Mike is played by James Marsden and this is a little more interesting for him to play compared to "Sonic". Granted Ben Schwartz, who plays Sonic, has a small cameo here so it does seem like a cool family operation.
Elia Gonzalez plays Alice, who is the would-be wife of Nick but with a connection to Mike. She too has a presence but it is not really optimized here either. This whole breakdown is supposed to make one feel for the characters in addition to some flashbacks but it never really clicks. These (the leads) are all good actors who are mostly just having a bit of fun (not unlike John Cusack making "Hot Tub Time Machine") but it more a way to show off the stunt work. That work is good though since it is brutal and the cuts between Vaughn and Marsden going at it are pretty seamless. There is also two great cameos built into a set piece in an apartment which is the best part of the movie by far. One is a misdirect but a beauty for "Office Space" fans. The bigger baddie is built into the release of a felon called "Jimmy Boy". In this way, the movie takes place over one night with a series of parties thrown by Jimmy's gangster father (Keith David). The would-be humor by most of these ancillary characters is a bit flat. While it seems Grabinski wanted to give some of the characters..and actors the ability to improvise, that tends to mean the script wasn't strong enough in the first place. Again "Nick & Nick" is high concept in its own way but only moderately well done without a necessary feeling of stakes despite a good cast. There is always also a eye turn when the film goes from regular motion into a slightly exaggerated one with trails instead of maybe a quick second of slow motion. It just feels lazy. That said though Vaughn does his best and that wonderful snark he always is known for doesn't disappoint. He knows the exact right tone the film needs. Unfortunately most of the rest of the creative team (in terms of the creatives) don't get it quite right. They try...and it's fun a lot of the time...but it is mostly very silly. B-
By Tim Wassberg
