PIZZA MOVIE
(director/writer: Nick Kocher/Brian McElhaney; cinematographer: Bella Gonzales; editor: Matt McBrayer; music: Leo Birenberg, Zach Robinson; cast: Gaten Matarazzo (Jack), Lulu Wilson (Lizzy), Jack Martin (Blake), Sean Giambrone (Monty), Peyton Elizabeth Lee (Ashley), Marcus Scribner (Logan), Caleb Hearon (Sidney), Sarah Sherman (Frankie), Miguel-Andres Garcia (Juan), Justin Cooley (Bryan), Daniel Radcliffe (Butterfly-voice; Runtime: 97; MPAA Rating: NR; producers: Jeremy Garelick, Will Phelps, Billy Rosenberg, Jason Zaro, Molle DeBartolo, Max A. Butler, Matt Whelan; American High/Hulu; 2026)
“Goofy stoner comedy.”
Reviewed by Dennis Schwartz
The first feature film for co-directors and co-writers Nick Kocher and Brian McElhaney is this goofy stoner comedy. The team was previously known as BriTANicK, and have writing credits on SNL.
Jack (Gaten Matarazzo), detested by the football team over a prior incident, and the shy and nervous loser Monty (Sean Giambrone), are nerdy outsider college roommates bullied by Logan (Marcus Scribner) and the campus insiders.
The roommates discover experimental homemade drugs called M.I.N.T.S, left behind in their dorm room’s ceiling slot by the previous kooky tenant Frankie (Sarah Sherman), and take them without reading a warning message that comes with them. After taking the pills they view a video that tells them they must eat to counter the powerful effects from the drugs or be overcome by the drugs.
The boys try to save themselves by ordering a pizza by phone. But they must walk down two stair-flights to retrieve the pie in the lobby. On the way down they run into the fascist-like head RA man Blake (Jack Martin) searching for dorm drugs, an annoying butterfly (Daniel Radcliffe-voice), and are overcome by hallucinations.
Supporting players such as Peyton Elizabeth Lee play the coed Sean has a crush on but doesn’t have the nerve to ask out, and Lulu Wilson plays the coed who left the nerds to be on the side of their tormentors.
The result is a crude and outlandish comedy of sketches and video gags that I found too cheesy. It’s just another disposable stoner film targeted for the young viewers that I couldn’t swallow with-out gagging.
It played at SXSW Film Festival.
REVIEWED ON 4/10/2026 GRADE: C
dennisschwartzreviews.com