Film Review – Mike & Nick & Nick & Alice (2026)

      **Mike & Nick & Nick & Alice, 2026.**

      **Written and Directed by BenDavid Grabinski.**

      **Starring Vince Vaughn, James Marsden, Eiza González, Keith David, Jimmy Tatro, Stephen Root, Lewis Tan, Ben Schwartz, Emily Hampshire, Ella Ballentine, Ellen Wong, and Arturo Castro.**

      **SYNOPSIS:**

      Two friends traverse the perilous landscape of organized crime, challenging their loyalty and survival as they delve deeper into the criminal underworld.

      An action-comedy fusion of gangsters and time travel, BenDavid Grabinski’s Mike & Nick & Nick & Alice (the title may sound complex with its characters and their relations, but it's straightforward) occasionally feels overly broad in its satirical take on mob life and the emotional depth it aims to achieve through time travel themes. However, it finds redemption in some impressively dynamic fight choreography and a hilarious supporting role by Jimmy Tatro, which may leave audiences hoping for a spinoff or prequel about inept gangsters (one notably named Dumbass Tony, among other absurd characters).

      Regarding Jimmy Tatro, he portrays Jimmy Boy, the foolish son of Keith David’s leader, Sosa (the biological connection is questionable), who has just been released from prison and is welcomed back with an extravagant celebration that includes multiple after-parties. Throughout the night, Sosa plans to eliminate the informant who betrayed him, which leads to the film's main characters: Mike (James Marsden), the dual Nicks (Vince Vaughn), and Alice (Eiza González). A time travel plot, devised by the nerdy Symon (played by Ben Schwartz) with gang ties, reveals a misunderstanding and that they may only have one night to amend the past and keep Mike alive.

      Nick finds himself in an unfulfilling relationship with Alice, who is secretly having an affair with Mike (which has likely been happening for a while). Assuming that Nick will attend one of the after-parties for his own infidelity, Mike and Alice decide to meet privately in a hotel room. However, before they can, Mike’s partner shows up unexpectedly, persuading him to undertake one last job, despite knowing he intends to leave that life behind. This Nick is from the future where Mike is destined to die that night, which he hesitates to reveal to his friend without concrete evidence of time travel. This is proven when Nick persuades Mike to “chloroform” whoever answers his door, which turns out to be Present Nick, initiating a chaotic chain of events.

      Despite some logical inconsistencies (such as Nick insisting Mike should carry out the chloroform plan, even though encountering another Nick is bound to create confusion), this playful premise proves effective when the filmmaker uses it to craft cartoonish brawls reminiscent of professional wrestling, dynamically incorporating weapons or other elements without losing track of the environment. The choreography demonstrates impressive fluidity and rhythm, ensuring that fights are immersive until they fully exploit their settings (a scene in a convenience store results in fitting destruction). By the climax, when firearms are introduced, the action retains its creativity, knowing when to innovate.

      The comedy is a mixed bag, as the filmmaker occasionally relies on pop culture references to cover weak character development. Watching Mike and the Nicks discuss how their predicament relates to Gilmore Girls feels random, while other jokes, like a convenience store clerk wearing a “Cronenberg for president” shirt, seem like attempts to showcase the filmmaker's taste.

      Even the critiques of mob culture through quirky names aren’t particularly original, though they occasionally land well. Jimmy Tatro effectively conveys the absurdity of the mob scene with his goofy charm. The heavy use of licensed music attempts to enhance the cool factor or elicit emotional responses from the audience, despite a lack of substantial character exploration, making themes of regret and mistakes feel less impactful than Grabinski intended.

      Nevertheless, amidst the awkward humor, Mike & Nick & Nick & Alice displays undeniable creativity and a lively sense of fun, merging mob antics with time-traveling escapades, resulting in several stylish action sequences. While the narrative doesn’t always take the most engaging route (a sudden act of violence is undermined by a revelation involving cringe-worthy humor, highlighting the filmmaker’s love for the magic of cinema), it ultimately comes together well, featuring two robust performances from Vince Vaughn, some impressive gunplay from James Marsden, and Eiza González serving as the intellect of the trio.

      **Flickering Myth Rating – Film: ★ ★ ★ / Movie: ★ ★ ★**

      *Robert Kojder*