Director: Jake Szymanski.
Starring: Adam Devine, Zac Efron, Anna Kendrick, Aubrey Plaza, Sugar Lyn Beard.
Comedies set in Hawaii instantly remind me of 50 First Dates and Forgetting Sarah Marshall, and this isn't far off the mark. It's in the same vein as the comedies with the same title structure, Harold & Kumar Get The Munchies and I know Pronounce You Chuck & Larry, stupid but entertaining, and this happens to be one of the funniest films I've seen this year.
It's the silly leading the crazy with brothers Mike, Adam Devine (Pitch Perfect, Workaholics), and Dave, Zac Efron are forced into getting 'nice' dates to keep them in check for their little sister, Jeanie's (Sugar Lyn Beard) wedding. Their online ad for dates go viral and in stream hundreds of annoying and funny applicants. But they end up getting duped by equally immature BFFs and real life best friends, Tatiana played by deadpan comedienne Aubrey Plaza (Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World, Parks & Recreation, Funny People) and Alice played by Pitch Perfect singer star Anna Kendrick (Up In The Air, Into The Woods.)
I could be wrong but I believe this might be Jake Szymanski's first main feature debut after many TV shorts and episodes, who is quite familiar with comedy being credited to directing shorts titled Denise Richards' Funbags, Zac Efron's Pool Party and Three Matthew McConaugheys and a Baby. It's hardly surprising that he has a good understanding at what makes people laugh especially with shock and awe.
There's plenty of outrageously, awkward scenarios which ensures laugh-out-loud moments such as the quad bikes, Kumail Nanjiani (Central Intelligence, Life As We Know It) as Keanu the masseur and some embarrassing sexual encounters. What probably most shocking, if not too over-exaggerated, is that this is actually based on a true story, with the real life Mike and Dave getting cameos with over-competitive cousin Terry and according to a recent Vanity Fair interview, the brothers are pretty much spot on! Here's the original Craigslist Ad
It's hilarious in parts and actually, going against the critics hate parade, it's not a bad story, the script is better than a lot of comedies out there, it doesn't lose slack and the soundtrack is good. You can tells the cast had fun with the out-takes and there's even a needless Branscombe Richmond (Renegade) cameo. (I was shocked to see him) not necessarily for the big screen but certainly a worth while watch for a barrel of laughs.
Running Time: 9
The Cast: 8
Performance: 8
Direction: 8
Story: 8
Script: 6
Creativity: 8
Soundtrack: 8
Job Description: 8
The Extra Bonus Point: 5 for having such a cool background story.
76% 8/10
