SXSW 2026 Review: MIKE & NICK & NICK & ALICE is a Crowd-Pleasing, Guns-Blazing Buddy Comedy

Mike & Nick & Nick & Alice might be one of the more lighthearted titles we'll ever cover here on Daily Dead, but for festival movies you want to spread the word about, exceptions can be made. Plus, it's not without death! That's kinda our thing here, and filmmaker BenDavid Grabinski doles it out in a sci-fi gangster thriller with a lovable sense of humor. It's an unlikely combination of seeing double, evil mob bosses, and time machines that hits the spot, getting freaky with a killer ensemble of top-notch … well, killers.

The night revolves around a sequence of parties that proud kingpin Sosa (Keith David) throws for his recently out-of-jail son, Jimmy Boy (Jimmy Tatro). Sosa reveals there's a rat in everyone's midst, and by the end of the night, they will be exposed. Top-ranking criminal Nick (Vince Vaughn) doesn't worry, nor does his buddy and colleague, "Quick Draw" Mike (James Marsden)—but the latter should. Somehow, the blame falls on Mike. Now he's on the run from Sosa's elite assassin, "The Barron," and can only rely on Nick, Nick's wife Alice (Eiza González), and another Nick … from the future.

It's a batty concept that keeps bells and whistles simple when it comes to fantastical elements. If anything, it's an excuse to score double Vaughn performances, harnessing his character's evolution over 6 months. That casual vibe about the whole "traveling back to save your friend" aspect, how Nick bends reality for a life-altering redo, helps Mike & Nick & Nick & Alice feel more approachable. Outside an introductory scene with Ben Schwartz's inventor Symon, where he funnily tweaks his machine while karaoke-ing "Why Should I Worry?" from Oliver & Company, science fiction-y minutia doesn't really … matter? You're here for the relationships, shoot-outs, and chuckles—Grabinski's screenplay doesn't get bogged down in anything else.

The core four of Mike & Nick & Nick & Alice—well, three because Vaughn doesn’t count twice—are great at downplaying the weirdness of their situation. The "Nick & Nick" stuff, especially. Vaughn keys into the growth anyone can experience in a short time, as future Nick rationalizes with the current version of himself, who is blinded by juicy drama between himself, Mike, and Alice. Lovers bicker, friends reveal secrets, but survival is still their mission. Grabinski's screenplay is approvably shifty, as plans implode or ruses shatter, with a hidden trick always mere moments later. The joy is seeing Marsden, Vaughn, and González react to each surprise, playing up their go-with-the-flow attitudes in the face of absurd twists—but also the shared emotionality of their choices, and unexpected flourishes of heartfelt warmth.

Just as noteworthy is the supporting cast, filled with heavy comedic hitters like Jimmy Tatro as an imbecile underworld nepobaby and Arturo Castro as "Dumbass" Tony, who earns his character's nickname tenfold. Keith David should be the villain in any movie, so it's no shock that his booming voice delivers A+ exclamations. Even bit parts like Stephen Root as a [redacted for safety] or Emily Hampshire as a crooked cop elevate menial roles, which helps ground the main players in their cooler, calmer states. Grabinski fills his in-movie universe with stereotypical goons like Lewis Tan's "Roid Rage" Ryan, which only underscores Mike and Nick's slicker approach to professional appearances.

As for the action of it all, Mike & Nick & Nick & Alice saves its killing spree for the After After After party (aka climactic finale)—but it's not ALL there. Threats of a cannibal hitman loom over Mike, while a particularly gory headshot puts down a formidable foe. Then, the film's spectacular guns-blazing fight sequence, righteously set to Andrew W.K., unloads clip after clip into Sosa's loyal family with plenty of exaggerated fatalities. Mike finds a grenade, Nick and Nick maneuver alongside one another—letting Vaughn cover himself—and Jimmy Boy whips out his gold-casted shotgun (a gift from pops). Jokes might take precedence for the first two-thirds, but once it's time to crash Jimmy Boy's ongoing shindig, Grabinski lets the bodies hit the floor. Everyone in attendance is a target; there's no encore.

Mike & Nick & Nick & Alice hits on a bevy of crowd-pleasing notes. It's never better than a good time at the movies, but what's the harm in that? Vaughn and Marsden are two bros trying to navigate one heck of a messy night, and they're consistently charming as chaos continues to unfold. You'll laugh, you'll laugh some more, maybe gasp here and there, and watch the credits with a smile on your face. Good movie is good! Grabinski gifts a damn fine cinematic distraction from the world around us.

Movie Score: 3.5/5