A quirky crime story about hitmen caught in a time loop, Mike & Nick & Nick & Alice is a clever, tongue-in-cheek comedy with enough charm to keep it enjoyable even as it starts to feel a bit played out.
When I first saw the name of this movie, it immediately reminded me of Bob & Carol & Ted & Alice. I’ve never actually watched that movie (it’s before my time, and I’ve never gotten around to it), but the poster is familiar: four people covered with a sheet, sitting in a single bed together. I’ve always assumed that it was about two couples that sleep together in some fashion, and that being the case in this movie as well, it’s a fitting nod.
Mike & Nick & Nick & Alice is about loan shark Nick, a man married to Alice, who attends the organization leader’s party for his son, who has just been released from prison. At this party, Sosa announces that the person who framed his son is in serious trouble, and sets out to have the “rat” killed. At the same time, Alice is having an affair with hitman Quick Draw Mike, who wants to leave the organization, but Nick interrupts their secret meeting to have Mike do some work.
This is a playful comedy that has some very funny moments and knows exactly what it is. From the dryly funny banter to the clearly improvised lines, you can see that the cast and crew had a lot of fun making this film.
There are also some incredibly unique ideas – a blend of genres – that you don’t usually see. I don’t tend to like talking about specifics you might want to discover yourself, but since it’s literally on the poster, I will this time. You don’t get many time-traveling hitman films, and this group did it with pizzazz. It feels silly, but inventive, and, again, it never takes itself too seriously.
My only complaint is that, while the jokes are cute, the setup is novel, and the actors are entertaining, the story starts to feel a little thin. You get it, and it’s been amusing, but as you head into the second half of the movie, the repetition becomes more obvious. That said, it does pick up again near the end.
From the lively musical opening scene to the cat who becomes a starring character, Mike & Nick & Nick & Alice stays in the land of laughs and offbeat choices. Vince Vaughn, James Marsden, Eiza González, and Keith David are all enjoyable to watch, as is the small supporting cast. This is a good watch if you want something light. But also, could there be a part two coming? Probably not, but you never know!
Runtime: 107 minutes
Motion Picture Rating: R
Languages Spoken In The Film: English
Should You Watch It? Yes
Did I Cry? Nope
My Rating: 3/5 Stars
Available: Free on Hulu and Disney+, or may be available for free on other streaming platforms
When I first saw the name of this movie, it immediately reminded me of Bob & Carol & Ted & Alice. I’ve never actually watched that movie (it’s before my time, and I’ve never gotten around to it), but the poster is familiar: four people covered with a sheet, sitting in a single bed together. I’ve always assumed that it was about two couples that sleep together in some fashion, and that being the case in this movie as well, it’s a fitting nod.
