“Ricky Stanicky” is the latest name in the circuit of comedy movie fans. The movie was released on March 7, 2024, on Amazon Prime Video. It centers around a web of lies spun by three friends. However, as their lies get bigger and bigger, their family demands proof of their stories, leading to a chain of hilarious events.
While the movie has amassed mixed response at best, its strength lies in the titular character, or rather the actor playing it. John Cena has been praised for carrying the movie and for his outlandish performance. However, fans may find it surprising to learn that Cena was not the first or even the second choice to play the role.
Hollywood A-Listers Like Jim Carrey, Nicolas Cage, James Franco, and Joaquin Phoenix Were Considered For Ricky Stanicky
Ricky Stanicky has been in the works for longer than one can imagine. The first news of the movie came as early as May 2010, when it was reported that James Franco had been cast in the titular role. A couple of years later, the Spider-Man actor moved on from the project. During this time the future Oscar winner Joaquin Phoenix was considered for the role as per The Hollywood Reporter.
In 2013, Jim Carrey was reported to be the front in line to play Stanicky. It was reported that The Mask actor had given almost a year of thought before going ahead with the project. However, the movie was kept on the shelf for almost a decade soon after. Hollywood Heavyweight Nicolas Cage, too, was considered for the role at some time.
After too much of passing the parcel, the role finally landed with John Cena. Besides Stanicky, the movie revolves around the three friends Dean, Wes, and JT played by Zac Efron, Jermaine Fowler, and Andrew Santino respectively.
John Cena is Collecting Praise For His Work in Ricky Stanicky
Reviews for Ricky Stanicky are all over the place. Humor is a subjective thing, so some people find it hilarious while others might not. But one thing everyone agrees on is that the cast is great, especially John Cena.
Cena brings an infectious energy to the role. The Oscar winner Peter Farrelly lets him loose, and John Cena delivers the most outlandish performance that’s worth seeing. Even critics who weren’t fans of the movie as a whole acknowledged Cena’s comedic energy. The movie’s Rotten Tomatoes consensus also read that “Ricky Stanicky gets some big laughs thanks to John Cena’s up-for-anything performance.”
Ricky Stanicky can be streamed on Amazon Prime Video.
