There is something about those folks you meet on vacation. Bonding usually occurs over shots and in some cases illegal substances. How often do these people become our lifelong compatriots? To paraphrase that iconic sentiment about Las Vegas, what happens on vacation stays on vacation.
But, what if it didn’t? That’s the case with Vacation Friends, debuting in theaters and simultaneously on two streaming giants—Disney+ and Hulu.
The film stars Lil Rel Howery and Yvonne Orji as Marcus and Emily. The former has big plans for their time in paradise. Marcus is going to ask Emily to marry him. As is the case in films where two unlikely couple friends suddenly find themselves going from hardly knowing each other to essential strangers becoming an enormous part of the big day. The key to films (usually comedies, like Vacation Friends) being successful is filmmakers keenly know when to ride the ridiculous roller-coaster and when to sit back and enjoy the ride.
Having John Cena’s Ron and his better half Kyla (Meredith Hagner) as the titular characters brings a certain mettle to the situation in this 100-percent situational comedy. Connecting with Marcus and Emily commences in the most innocent of manners. Thanks to the script from Tom Mullen, Tim Mullen, and director Clay Tarver, what could have been a series of one-trick ponies.
Instead, Howery is the majority “straight man.” The reason there are quotation marks involved in that assessment is when you wind Cena’s Ron up like a top and let him go of course he’s the wild man to Rel’s seeking to slam or at least tap the brakes. But he and Hagner both get to play the straight role on occasion, and it balances the humor seesaw nicely.
There are two distinctive situations colliding as these two couples become one fun unit. There is something about the people you meet when your guard’s down or radar is reduced or even off. Now, connecting with those folks outside of that vacation can be awkward—especially when it involves someone’s big day, i.e., the nuptials.
I actually found that the Fab Four’s friendship went from zero to 60 in no time at all, yet it never felt forced. After everything that Marcus and Emily went through with the planning and execution of their wedding, even deciding what to eat for breakfast can be deflating. Enter Ron and Kyla. Are they completely unhinged? Not completely. Do they allow the newlyweds to let loose and pamper themselves in every possible way? You bet.
Is it believable that Marcus and Emily would best Insta BFFs with this fun-loving pair so quickly? Yes, but only after the viewer is introduced to Emily’s a wee bit controlling mother (and to some extent her father) and the mismatch that is Marcus and his military dad and tinkering mom. That’s mentioned because frankly, it helps make a lot of what Howery does with his character and the choices he makes. There is no need to go all Freud with Vacation Friends, but it is important to illustrate the effort—at least—that went into connecting all these dots first, and second, have it all made some sort of sense beyond just providing laughter.
Cena has flirted with comedy in the past, but in Vacation Friends he goes full tilt. It turns out to be a smart move. Whether it is Arnold Schwarzenegger or Dwayne Johnson, big action heroes also dabbling successfully in the humor realm is important to their career success and most importantly, longevity.
Cena and Howery have nice chemistry. The pair—not only on the screen—but off it as well, find that groove pretty quickly that reminds of Johnson and Kevin Hart. Hopefully, this is the first of many movies that the pair do together. Their better halves are exactly that, better!
Hagner and Orji also would be welcomed in another film where they can capitalize on their Vacation Friends camaraderie. Whether they will get that chance remains to be seen.
Between the four leads, this is a serviceable comedy, aimed perfectly at the streaming audience hungry for a laugh.
Grade: B