“Dicks” The Musical” is like a raunchy version of “The Parent Trap” that’s trying so very hard to be funny, likeable, and edgy that it fails at all of it. Needlessly crude and profane, director Larry Charles and co-writers and stars Aaron Jackson and Josh Sharp (adapted from their two-man stage show) put in overtime with their attempts to be as offensive as possible, and it all reeks of the sad stink of utter desperation. This is a truly terrible movie that has very few redeeming qualities, and it’s one of the worst I can remember in a long time.
When a pair of business rivals (Jackson, Sharp) discover they’re long lost identical twins, the two men decide to swap places in an attempt to trick their divorced and deranged parents (Nathan Lane, Megan Mullally) into getting back together.
There isn’t much more plot than that, and the overacting feels like a silly sitcom that is sure to be cancelled before it even airs for one season. At least Charles injects a small bit of life into his movie with a series of mildly catchy songs, but they’re ruined by needlessly dirty lyrics and poorly choreographed musical numbers that will make theater fans groan.
Very little about this film works, and a handful of moderately successful gags and a couple of humorous jokes doesn’t make it worth your time. There are far too many “WTF!?” moments that are solely designed to shock, but there admittedly are a couple of quotable lines that could make the deep cut roster of movie geeks who had the stamina to sit through the entire movie (which I’ve done myself and strongly do not recommend).
Too bawdy, weird, and vulgar for most mainstream audiences, “Dicks: The Musical” wears thin quickly. The movie eventually falls apart at the seams and never recovers from its colossal death spiral.
By: Louisa Moore
Screen Zealots 