Title: Mike and Dave Need Wedding Dates
Director: Jake Szymanski
Writers: Andrew Jay Cohen, Brendan O'Brien
Starring: Zac Efron, Adam Devine, Anna Kendrick, Aubrey Plaza
The four leads work well together and the chemistry is great. They all seem to have had a great time making this film, perhaps unsurprisingly as it’s largely based in Hawaii.
Brothers Mike (Adam Devine) and Dave (Zac Efron) are hard-partying guys. Under strict instructions to behave at their sisters’ wedding their family insist that they have proper dates – nice girls who will keep them in check. Unfortunately, Alice (Anna Kendrick) and Tatiana (Aubrey Plaza) aren’t exactly the right girls for the job – they’re equally hedonistic as the guys!
The film is directorial debut of Jake Szymanski as a feature film director. His direction is certainly solid and he shows signs of flair and skill.
Watching Kendrick play against type as a bad girl is interesting, although from interviews that I have read with her, this is more likely to be closer to her own personality than the prim and proper persona from films such as Pitch Perfect.
Tatiana and Alice are much more interesting characters than Mike and Dave and in all honesty Plaza and Kendrick are more accomplished actors.
The film strays into some crude, rude scenes but it’s gross out without being edgy or especially smart. At times, the script lets down the actors, who are better than the material in general but as I said they probably had a lot of fun making the film.
It's all roughly based on a true story, when a pair of real cousins (as a joke apparently) decided to post an advert on Craigslist seeking dates for a wedding. They got lots or replies but ended up taking childhood friends as their 'dates' instead, in a quite sweet move... Unlike in the film, which is clearly hightened reality.
If you liked the nature of films such as Bad Neighbours and Wedding Crashers this is the sort of film for you.
Mike and Dave Need Wedding Dates is available on Blu-ray and DVD on 12th December, from Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment
