MIKE & NICK NICK & ALICE
(director/writer: BenDavid Grabinskis; cinematographer: Larry Fong; editor: Tim Squyres; music: Joseph Trapanese; cast: Vince Vaughn (future & present Nick), James Marsden (quick draw Mike), Eiza González (Alice), Keith David (Sosa), Jimmy Tatro (Jimmy Boy), Stephen Root (Chet), Lewis Tan (Roid Rage Ryan), Ben Schwartz (Symon), Emily Hampshire (Sam), Arturo Castro (Dumbass Tony), Dolph Lundgren (The Barron); Runtime: 107; MPAA Rating: R; producer: Andrew Lazar; Hulu/20th Century Studios; 2026)
“An inane film blending comedy, crime, and sci-fi.”
Reviewed by Dennis Schwartz
An inane film blending together comedy, crime, and sci-fi. It takes place over one night. The film heads straight to streaming on Hulu, skipping theaters. It’s directed and written by BenDavid Grabinskis (“Happily”) without too many jokes clicking or the plot making too much sense.
Nick (Vince Vaughn) is a loyal mobster for the syndicate who works with the hit man Quick Draw Mike (James Marsden). Mike’s having an affair with Nick’s wife Alice (Eiza González), and plans on quitting the mob after doing one last job that Mike asks him to do.
The jealous Nick framed Mike for ratting out the moronic young mobster Jimmy Boy (Jimmy Tatro), who served eight years in the slammer. He’s the son of Sosa (Keith David), the ruthless syndicate’s boss, who retaliates by having Mike rubbed out after holding a welcome home party for Jimmy upon his prison release.
The remorseful Nick uses the time machine of the mad scientist
Symon (Ben Schwartz), his wife’s friend, to go back six- months as the Future Nick and try to save Mike’s life.
Gangsters such as Dumbass Tony (Arturo Castro) and Rage Roid Ryan (Lewis Tan) add color to the crime scenes, reminding us of Damon Runyon-like cartoonish Broadway gangsters. The wonderful action-pic star Dolph Lundgren has a scene stealing cameo as a character called The Barron.
This is the kind of film that could have played in the 70s and 80s in theaters. But it doesn’t exactly work here because the filmmaker can’t quite figure out what to do with its time travel add-on to its cliched crime story.
It played at the SXSW Film Festival.
REVIEWED ON 4/1/2026 GRADE: C+
dennisschwartzreviews.com