Some things just make you happy. Seeing Mike & Nick & Nick & Alice at this year’s SXSW Film and TV Festival is one of those things. This movie flat-out made me happy. I loved it. It is fast, smart, funny, and just plain exciting from beginning to end. Trying to pin down its genre is almost pointless. It is a crime film, an action film, a buddy comedy, and somehow a science fiction movie all rolled into one. So yes, I guess the best way to describe it is a Crime Action Buddy Comedy Sci-Fi film, and somehow that still feels like underselling it.
Synopsis
BenDavid Grabinski absolutely delivers here, pulling double duty as writer and director. The film follows Quick Draw Mike (James Marsden), a career enforcer who is ready to leave that life behind. He plans to walk away with Alice (Eiza González), the wife of his partner Nick (Vince Vaughn). The problem is Nick already knows, and while he may not care all that much about Alice, he very much cares about the betrayal.
Nick sets Mike up as the fall guy to their boss, Sosa, played with signature presence and charm by Keith David. With Sosa’s son Jimmy Boy (Jimmy Tatro) getting out of prison and looking for revenge on the rat who put him there, Nick pins it all on Mike. From there, things spiral quickly as Sosa hires the assassin, Barron, who also happens to be a cannibal, to clean things up. That is about as much as I want to say about the plot because a lot of the joy of this film is in the discovery.
Eiza González, James Marsden and Vince Vaughn star in “Mike & Nick & Nick & Alice” (2026). Photo courtesy of Hulu.
Discussion
Grabinski’s script is packed with sharp dialogue and loaded with 90s cultural references. It creates this constant undercurrent of nostalgia without ever feeling like a gimmick. Some moments made me want to immediately rewatch it with my wife and daughter, just for things like the Gilmore Girls references alone. The film also wears its cinematic influences proudly. There are clear nods to John Woo in the action sequences, and the overall tone occasionally drifts into something that feels Tarantino-adjacent. Yet it never feels like a copy. It feels like a remix. The pacing is relentless. This movie rarely slows down, and you have to stay locked in because it is very easy to miss a joke, a reference, or a small detail that pays off later.
The performances across the board are excellent. Vaughn is having an absolute blast as Nick. He feels completely at home in this role, balancing menace and humor effortlessly. And yes, he plays more than one version of Nick, which adds to the film’s wonderfully chaotic energy. It gets a little wild from a time-space perspective and probably breaks every rule Back to the Future ever tried to establish. But that’s part of the fun. Marsden is also a standout. This is the kind of role that reminds you he should have been a full-on leading man years ago. He brings charm, wit, and just enough weariness to make Mike feel like someone who knows his time in this life is coming to an end. It’s a confident, engaging performance that really anchors the film.
Further Analysis
Eiza González does strong work as Alice, and she has one of the trickiest roles in the movie. She often has to play the straight character in a world full of chaos, and she manages to hold her ground without getting lost between Marsden and Vaughn. It is a balanced and thoughtful performance that gives the story something real to hold onto. The supporting cast in Mike & Nick & Nick & Alice is stacked with great character work. From Stephen Root to Arturo Castro to Ben Schwartz, everyone seems dialed into exactly what kind of movie they are in. It feels like Grabinski had a clear vision for every character, no matter how small, and that attention to detail shows up in every scene.
Technically, the film is impressive. The camera work and stunt choreography blend together beautifully, creating some of the most entertaining action sequences I have seen this year. There’s a fluidity to it that keeps everything moving while still letting you appreciate the craftsmanship behind it. The soundtrack is another highlight. From the opening number performed by Schwartz through the rest of the film, the music adds personality and momentum. It reinforces the tone, enhances the humor, and leans into that nostalgic edge without overwhelming the story.
Conclusion
Mike & Nick & Nick & Alice ended up being my favorite film at SXSW. My only concern is that it’s set for a Hulu release. This is a movie that deserves a theatrical audience. It’s built for big screens, loud crowds, and that post-movie conversation where everyone is quoting their favorite lines on the way out. Make the time to watch this one. It’s action packed, clever, and a whole lot of fun. A film that moves like a bullet but lands like a punchline.
