New to Prime Video on March 7, 2024, Ricky Stanicky is a throwback R-rated buddy comedy by director Peter Farrelly. The story involves a trio of friends who pull a childhood prank that backfires, prompting them to blame an imaginary culprit named Ricky Stanicky. Years later, the friends continue to use the made-up alias to avoid workplace trouble and cover up their sophomoric shenanigans.
Although Ricky Stanicky has drawn mediocre reviews for its crude raunchiness and overlong running time, the old-school buddy comedy boasts a tremendous cast of recognizable actors that elevates the material. For those wondering if the movie is worth a watch, perhaps the superb cast of characters will sway a decision one way or the other. As such, it’s time to meet the characters featured in Ricky Stanicky.
Zac Efron as Dean
Played by Zac Efron, Dean is one of three central best friends in Ricky Stanicky. As children, the trio pulled a Halloween prank on a neighbor that ended in a fire. Dean leaves the name Ricky Stanicky behind to avoid blame. Twenty years later, Dean and his friends continue to get out of jeopardy by using Ricky Stanicky as a patsy. However, the scheme backfires when Dean’s fiancee grows suspicious as their wedding approaches.
Fresh off his outstanding performance as Kevin Von Erich in The Iron Claw, Efron famously began his career in the hit High School Musical movie series. While his most popular movies include 17 Again, Baywatch, New Year’s Eve,Neighbors, and more, Efron’s best dramatic movie work can be found in The Greatest Showman, Me and Orson Welles, The Paperboy, and Parkland.
Jermaine Fowler as Wes
Jermaine Fowler plays Wes, one of Dean’s best friends. Wes was part of the Halloween prank that created the Ricky Stanicky alias and alibi that drives the plot. Two decades later, Wes voices concern about the scheme being exposed and urges his friends to come clean before it’s too late. Although Wes has benefited from the ruse in the past, he matures as the moral backbone of the group.
Fowler is a hilarious stand-up comedian and talented actor with over 50 screen credits. After starring in the sitcom Superior Donuts, Fowler has starred in Sorry to Bother You, Coming 2 America, The Drop, Judas and the Black Messiah, and more. Fowler is also a talented voice actor, with notable credits including Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur, Tuca & Bertie, BoJack Horseman, and others.
Andrew Santino as JT
Played by Andrew Santino, JT is Wes and Dean’s other best friend and is also responsible for creating the Ricky Stanicky alter ego. As adults, JT and his wife Susan prepare to have a child, forcing JT to call on the Ricky Stanicky scheme during their baby shower. Without spoiling too much, the elaborate scheme leads to a ceremonial Bris that only complicates matters with hysterical results.
Santino is a popular stand-up comedian, podcaster, and actor known for his Whiskey Ginger podcast. He is also a mainstay on the hit FX TV show Dave and can be seen in Curb Your Enthusiasm. Santino also appeared alongside Efron in The Disaster Artist and can be seen in such projects as Me Time, Beef, This Is Us, I’m Dying Up Here, Mixology, Sin City Saints, and Royal Crackers.
John Cena as Rod Rimestead, a.k.a. Ricky Stanicky
John Cena plays Rock-Hard Rod Rimestead in Ricky Stanicky. Rod is an actor and professional impersonator hired by Dean to pose as Ricky Stanicky to get out of Susan’s baby shower. When Dean tells his girlfriend that Ricky’s cancer has returned, he and his friends are allowed to visit their imaginary friend. However, it’s just a trick to attend a concert in Atlantic City, and the more the trio tries to convince their loved ones that Ricky is real, the worse the ploy backfires.
Cena famously began his career as a professional wrestler before transitioning to Hollywood acting. With bona fide comedic timing, Cena’s best work includes Blockers, Peacemaker, Barbie, and Daddy’s Home. Along with Ricky Stanicky, Cena starred in the ill-fated spy movie Argylle in 2024. With a handful of upcoming projects as well, Cena can be seen next in Paul Feig’s Grand Death Lotto.
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Lex Scott Davis as Erin
Played by Lex Scott Davis, Erin is Dean’s girlfriend in Ricky Stanicky. Dean and Erin are in charge of organizing Susan’s baby shower. Erin’s plans to marry Dean are interrupted by the arrival of Rod, a.k.a. Ricky Stanicky, who nearly sabotages the trio’s elaborate scheme. Once Erin finally exposes Ricky as a fabrication, her impending marriage to Dean is put in danger and their future hangs in the balance.
Davis has amassed over 20 credits in her decade-long career thus far. Her breakout role came in the 2017 TV adaptation of Training Day, which marked her first recurring character. In the interim, Davis has appeared in everything from SuperFly and The First Purge to Rebel, The Now, The L Word: Generation Q, and Florida Man. Up next, Davis is poised to play Erica Rollins in Suits: L.A.
Anja Savcic as Susan
Played by Anja Savcic, Susan is JT’s wife who goes into labor during the movie and has a baby boy named Whitaker. When the trio fails to attend Susan’s baby shower and subsequent childbirth, they try to blame their absence on Ricky Stanicky. Alas, the grand scheme only digs the trio into a deeper hole of deceit that hysterically comes back to haunt them once the third act approaches.
Farrelly fans are sure to recognize Savcic from her role as Claire Wilkes in the underrated comedy series Loudermilk, a character she portrayed for 30 episodes. Savcic is also known for her work in Big Sky, Nancy Drew, Dirk Gently’s Holistic Detective Agency, Family Law, and more. Notable movie credits include Be Still, Crash Pad, Life, and I Love You, Beth Cooper.
Jeff Ross as Rabbi Greenberg
Stand-up comedian Jeff Ross portrays Rabbi Greenberg in Ricky Stanicky. Rabbi Greenberg oversees the ceremonial Bris that JT and Susan take Walker to for a circumcision. Much like every other scenario in the movie involving the Ricky Stanicky ploy, the Bris does not go as planned and Rabbi Greenberg ends up having a bad reaction to a drug he ingested during the ceremony.
Beyond his stand-up work and hosting duties as Comedy Central’s roast master, Ross has bolstered his acting resume by starring in such popular projects as Along Came Polly, The Wedding Ringer, Stuck on You, Family Guy, and more. Fans of Ross’ comedy should check out his Netflix stand-up series Bumpin Mics with Jeff Ross and Dave Attell.
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William H. Macy as Ted Summerhayes
Played by William H. Macy, Ted Summerhayes is Dean and JT’s boss who runs a humanitarian non-profit business in the movie. Ted arrives at Whitaker’s Bris and becomes so impressed with Ricky Stanicky that he hires him to broker a business deal to merge with a company called World River. When it seems Ricky is about to ruin the merger, Ted thinks of a plan that helps all involved.
Macy is a terrific actor who came of age starring in David Mamet movies like House of Games and Homicide before scoring his landmark role in the Coen Brothers’ acclaimed crime drama Fargo. While perhaps best known for playing Frank Gallagher on the Showtime drama Shameless, Macy’s indelible work in Boogie Nights, Magnolia, The Cooler, State and Main, and Room continue to stand out among his decorated filmography.
Apple Farrelly as Carly
Apple Farrelly portrays Carly (far right), Dean’s cousin who attends Whitaker’s Bris with the rest of the extended family. Along with Ted and the others, Carly is impressed by Ricky Stanicky’s charitable ways and ultimately becomes his fiancée and environmental co-worker. Whether their impending marriage is another elaborate ruse is up to viewers to find out during the movie’s final moments.
The daughter of director Peter Farrelly, Apple has only appeared in her father’s and uncle Bobby Farell’s movies. The trend began with Shallow Hall in 2001 and continued through Stuck on You, The Heartbreak Kid, The Three Stooges, The Greatest Beer Run Ever, and Ricky Stanicky. With bigger roles each time out, Carly marks Farrelly’s most significant character thus far.
Heather Mitchell as Leona
Played by Heather Mitchell, Leona is Susan’s mother and JT’s mother-in-law in Ricky Stanicky. Leona is the biggest skeptic of Ricky Stanicky and believes he does not exist. As Dean, Wes, and JT try to convince her otherwise, Leona invites Ricky to Whitaker’s Bris to meet him in person. Once she meets Rod in person, Leona falls for the ruse and gives him his blessing.
With over 100 credits dating back to 1981, Mitchell is arguably the most accomplished member of the cast. Mitchell is best known for Love Me, Upright, The Secrets She Keeps, and A Place to Call Home. She can also be seen in such movies as Baz Luhrmann’s The Great Gatsby, Rogue, Muriel’s Wedding, The Wedding Party, and more.
Stream Ricky Stanicky on Prime Video.
