LOS ANGELES (AP) 鈥� When director set out to make what became the genre-defining rom-com 鈥淭here鈥檚 Something About Mary鈥� more than 25 years ago with his brother, Bobby, he knew it might take some convincing for a studio to open the purse strings for a boundary-pushing comedy.
鈥淧eople are scared to do comedy,鈥� the Oscar winner recalled. 鈥淲e were lucky because there hadn鈥檛 been a lot of R-rated comedies in quite a few years. Most of them were PG-13.鈥�
And while its box office debut was rocky, it ultimately became the third highest-grossing film in the year it was released.
Now, Farrelly is banking on that same thirst for vulgarity and depraved humor for 鈥淩icky Stanicky,鈥� his latest buddy comedy starring and that hits Prime Video on Thursday.
The film鈥檚 script sat in limbo for more than a decade with a host of big names, including and , attached to it at various points.
And while the powers that be in Hollywood expressed reservations about making something that skewers certain stereotypes 鈥� like millennial parents and method actors 鈥� and is saturated with sex and drug humor, Farrelly is confident he is satiating an appetite.
鈥淧eople were afraid to make it for a long time. But audiences are dying for that kind of comedy,鈥� he said.
Part of those anxieties stemmed from an uncertainty about what is too far and what is off limits, a tension some comedians have voiced frustration about in recent years.
鈥淎ll of the things that have happened in the last five, seven years that have scared people off of comedy are for good reason. These are good changes,鈥� Farrelly said. 鈥淚 think about it all the time. But I believe that if your heart鈥檚 in the right place and the characters鈥� hearts are in the right place, then you can get away with murder.鈥�
鈥淩icky Stanicky鈥� follows four childhood friends 鈥� well three and one imaginary one. For 20 years, the trio has been relying on a made-up friend named Ricky Stanicky whom the boys use to get out of trouble, obligations and even romantic relationships that aren鈥檛 going well.
But as the responsibilities of adulthood risk exposing them being caught in their lie, Dean (Efron) has the idea to hire an actor (Cena) to play their imaginary friend and assuage any doubts their loved ones have of his existence.
Efron grew up loving Farrelly鈥檚 films. Although 鈥淒umb and Dumber鈥� has always been the actor鈥檚 favorite, he said 鈥淭here鈥檚 Something About Mary鈥� is a 鈥渞eally close鈥� second.
More than just a fan though, Efron had already worked with and developed an appreciation for the director when he starred alongside Russell Crowe in Farrelly鈥檚 2022 film, 鈥淭he Greatest Beer Run Ever.鈥�
鈥淗e cuts through all the pipes and he鈥檚 just a great partner to work with. He always tells you honestly how he鈥檚 feeling and keeps you on track. I think that鈥檚 what I value,鈥� Efron said. 鈥淭here鈥檚 a lot of hilarious circumstances that the characters encounter over the course of the film, but it stays rooted in heart and love. And I think that鈥檚 just Pete.鈥�
Efron, who had just finished making his indie drama said filming for this project came at the perfect time. 鈥淚t was exactly what I needed. I needed to just laugh and have fun,鈥� he said.
Krysta Fauria, The Associated Press
