The Art of Friendship: Insights from Andrew Santino & Jermaine Fowler on Portraying Zac Efron's Closest Allies

Zac Efron and John Cena star in the upcoming comedy Ricky Stanicky, available for streaming on Prime Video starting March 7. The movie, rated R, blends silly humor with deep emotional themes, a trademark style of director Peter Farrelly, known for hits like There's Something About Mary and Dumb and Dumber. At the beginning of the story, Efron's character Dean teams up with his pals JT (played by Andrew Santino) and Wes (portrayed by Jermaine Fowler) to invent a fictional fourth friend whenever they need a break from reality.

Santino's character JT is a married man with a demanding job in finance and a baby on the way, while Fowler's Wes is struggling with a boyfriend who is tired of carrying the weight of their relationship. The trio relies so heavily on their made-up friend "Ricky Stanicky" that their partners eventually insist on meeting him face-to-face. This leads to the introduction of John Cena's character, Rock Hard Rod, a Vegas entertainer and committed method actor hired to play the role of their imaginary friend in a bid to fool their loved ones (and their boss) into believing they have it all together.

Why JT & Wes Need Ricky Stanicky In Their Lives

Screen Rant recently caught up with Santino and Fowler to chat about their hilarious buddy comedy antics in Ricky Stanicky. The actors' effortless chemistry was on full display as they shared some heartwarming behind-the-scenes stories with fellow cast members Efron and Cena. In the interview, Santino and Fowler also delved into their characters' reasons for getting caught up in a web of deception, while also sharing some amusing real-life mischief tales of their own.

Three friends sit at a bar holding up shot glasses in the trailer for Ricky Stanicky. - Why JT & Wes Need Ricky Stanicky In Their Lives

I really enjoyed watching Ricky Stanicky, but I have a few questions for you guys. What do you think is JT's issue? He's about to become a dad, yet he's relying on Ricky Stanicky as a way to avoid responsibility. Can you shed some light on this?

Andrew Santino believes that the character is struggling to mature and transition into adulthood like many other men. He seems to be avoiding responsibilities such as taking care of his baby and dealing with his marriage. Andrew thinks that the character is scared of growing up, facing reality, losing his friends, and seeing their relationships change. This fear is common among many people who are hesitant to embrace adulthood. However, in the movie, we see the character eventually mature and grow.

Jermaine expresses interest in learning more about the relationship between Wes and his friend, which he finds intriguing enough to watch a spinoff about. He is curious about the complex dynamics between the two characters and wonders why Wes relies on Ricky.

Wes is currently experiencing an identity crisis. At a certain point in life, you start to question who you are and what impact you want to make on the world. He has some ideas but hasn't committed to anything yet. Being in a relationship with someone more successful can make you doubt yourself and your aspirations. That's the situation Wes finds himself in.

Meeting Ricky Stanicky helps Wes gain clarity. When faced with challenging circumstances, you are pushed to your limits. Your friendships and relationships are put to the test, and Ricky's presence sheds light on these issues, allowing you to address them in an engaging manner.

Creating On Set Synergy With Zac Efron & John Cena

John Cena in Ricky Stanicky - Creating On Set Synergy With Zac Efron & John Cena

Working with Zac Efron and John Cena was a great experience. The chemistry between the four of us was fantastic. When the trio became a foursome, it felt like magic.

Andrew Santino found working with Zac Efron and John Cena to be easy. There was no ego involved, which made the process smooth. Both Zac and John are humble, fun, and easy to work with. There were no issues or drama on set, just a great working atmosphere.

Creating Memories On Set with Jermaine Fowler

Jermaine Fowler: Yeah, but that was on set. Even offset, they were great. You know what I mean? You never know what people's sensibilities are when they're not working, but all we wanted to do was hang out with each other. That was it. And we did. It was wonderful. We experienced Australia together, hung out. I watched Zac freestyle rap. That was awesome. We were playing [beer] pong and Zac was rapping.

What Creating A Ricky Stanicky Looks Like In Real Life

Digging into your own childhood, your own past, do you have a Ricky Stanicky equivalent? How mischievous did we get?

As a child, I often found myself blaming everything on the two boys who lived in my neighborhood, even though they never really did anything wrong. I used to attribute a lot of stuff to them, but in reality, I didn't have a "Ricky Stanicky" in my life. I didn't have an alibi or imaginary friends like some kids do. It was something we talked about.

Andrew Santino's Childhood Perspective

John Cena with his arms up in Ricky Stanicky - About Ricky Stanicky

RICKY STANICKY is a hilarious comedy that follows the story of childhood friends Dean, JT, and Wes who invent a fake friend named Ricky Stanicky. Over the years, they use this fictional character to cover up a prank gone wrong. When they hire celebrity impersonator "Rock Hard" Rod, played by John Cena, to bring Ricky Stanicky to life, things spiral out of control in this R-rated film starring Zac Efron, Andrew Santino, and Jermaine Fowler.

Check out our other interviews with:

Lex Scott Davis

Peter Farrelly & William H. Macy

Ricky Stanicky premieres March 7 on Prime Video.

Source: Screen Rant Plus

Editor's P/S:

The article provides an in-depth look into the upcoming comedy film "Ricky Stanicky," featuring interviews with cast members Andrew Santino and Jermaine Fowler. While the film promises a blend of humor and emotional depth, I am particularly intrigued by the exploration of the characters' reliance on a fictional friend to escape their problems. The concept of creating an alibi to avoid responsibilities raises thought-provoking questions about maturity, identity, and the complexities of male friendships.

The interviews with Santino and Fowler offer valuable insights into their characters' motivations and the dynamics between them. Santino's perspective on JT's fear of growing up and Fowler's analysis of Wes's identity crisis provide a relatable and nuanced understanding of the characters. Their anecdotes about the positive on-set atmosphere and their genuine enjoyment of working together further add to the appeal of the film. Overall, the article has piqued my interest in "Ricky Stanicky" and made me eager to explore the themes of friendship, responsibility, and the search for identity that it promises to tackle.