Synopsis: In this raw and raunchy comedy, Vacation Friends, straight-laced Marcus and Emily are befriended by wild, thrill-seeking partiers Ron and Kyla at a resort in Mexico. Living in the moment, the usually level-headed couple lets loose to enjoy a week of uninhibited fun and debauchery with their new “vacation friends.” Months after their walk on the wild side, Marcus and Emily are horrified when Ron and Kyla show up uninvited at their wedding, creating chaos and proving that what happens on vacation, doesn’t necessarily stay on vacation.
Commentary: The premise of this film is not new at all. But that should not keep you from experiencing what is a hilarious film with a surprising amount of heart. For me it was a reminder to live every day in the moment. Too often caution and society standards are our playbook. Now granted, that doesn’t mean that we go on some drug induced bender through a foreign country. But maybe it does mean that it is ok to just let loose sometime and create some memories.
For Marcus (Lil Rel Howery) and Emily (Yvonne Orji) they learn this from a couple they meet while on vacation. Ron (John Cena) and Kyla (Meredith Hagner) are that couple that you secretly want to be but also realize you have bills and a day job. They spend a wonderful week together in Mexico, and Marcus and Emily think that will be the last they see of them. It is only when Ron and Kyla crash their wedding that they learn something about themselves and true friendship.
John Cena steals the show in this one. He is the perfect mix of un-hinged and endearing. You have no idea what he will do next. Cena walks that thin line of over-the-top perfectly. What could come across as campy never does. Howery is a wonderful yin to his yang and plays the uptight, straight-laced character to a tee.
Vacation Friends is rated R for drug content, crude sexual references, and language throughout. Over the years I have seen much raunchier films that were not half as funny. This is an adult film for sure, but the comedy outshines the raunch most of the time.
“Vacation Friends” to stream exclusively on Disney’s Direct-to-Consumer Platforms as a Hulu Original in the U.S. and Internationally on Disney+ as a Star Original.
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