Mike & Nick & Nick & Alice Review: A Flavourless Action Comedy

Vince Vaughn stars opposite himself in the action comedy Mike & Nick & Nick & Alice, now streaming on Hulu, a project that landed after a year of actors taking on dual roles in sci-fi and action films. The film, which premiered at South by Southwest, features Vaughn as a gangster who travels back in time to prevent the murder of his colleague, Mike, played by James Marsden.

The premise centers on Nick, who utilizes a time-travel device created by Alice’s (Eiza Gonzalez) ex-boyfriend, Ben Schwartz, to return six months into the past. Nick’s mission: to safeguard Mike after he’s framed as an informant. The film’s plot unfolds as Nick attempts to collaborate with his past self to avert the impending tragedy.

Mike & Nick & Nick & Alice arrives in a landscape saturated with similar concepts. Recent releases include Robert Pattinson in Mickey 17, Dylan O’Brien in Twinless, Robert De Niro in Alto Knights, Elle Fanning in Predator: Badlands, Theo James in The Monkey and Michael B. Jordan in Sinners, all featuring actors in double roles. This trend, once potentially unique, now feels commonplace, according to a review in The Guardian.

The film incorporates familiar tropes of the action comedy genre, including an 80s pop soundtrack – following in the footsteps of films like Ready or Not 2 which used Bonnie Tyler – and a group singalong, in this case to Oasis’ “Don’t Look Back in Anger.” The script relies heavily on quick-fire banter, a technique popularized by Quentin Tarantino in films like Reservoir Dogs and Pulp Fiction, but often falls flat, with one exception being a detailed discussion of the television show Gilmore Girls.

Despite the presence of Vaughn, Marsden, and Gonzalez, the film struggles to deliver genuine humor or excitement. Critics note the action sequences lack originality, employing clumsy visual effects and predictable song choices, such as shootouts set to Block Rockin’ Beats and The Boys are Back in Town. The film’s attempts to be cool feel forced, resulting in a product that is hard to enjoy, according to reviews.