Buddy Games (2019) : Review

Josh Duhamel makes his directorial debut with Buddy Games a 2019 comedy that raked in just under a 1 million dollars at the box office. The film centers on 6 friends that reunite every year to play a series of ruthless games with zero rules that will bring each participant to their mental and physical breaking point -- whoever wins the games after adding up all the points is the champ and receives a metal bucket with their name on it for that year along with bragging rights until the games come to an end and is revived years later with a prize of $150,000. The film was written by Josh Duhamel, Michael J. Luisi, and Jude Weng with a cast full of recognizable names including Nick Swardson, Josh Duhamel, Olivia Munn, Dax Shepard, and Kevin Dillion.

Being a 2019 movie I know that it's a little late to be doing a review of the film but it just popped up on Hulu and I decided to give it a view as I watched the interview of Josh Duhamel on Kfc Radio where he talked about the Buddy Games and where he got the inspiration to write and direct it. One of the many games in the film has the guys drink a bottle of exlax and try to get a girl to buy them a drink at the bar and dance with them on the dance floor before they shit their pants, which naturally unravels into a slew of messy hook ups. The film is full of similar games, tough obstacles courses, and the characters pranking each likely making any dude watching this film think they should get their friends together and create a buddy games of their own.

The characters in the film are all going through relatable moments in their life as some struggle to make ends meet and others are quite successful in their careers. The core message of the film is the importance of friendship and staying young by having fun with your friends no matter how stupid or immature the activity is, even though each character is going through a tough time in their own way they all come together to help a depressed friend that has hit rock bottom. I don't know what there isn't to like about the film besides it maybe not being your taste of comedy as one of the characters puts semen in a drink and serves it to his friends to get them back for lying to him, very cruel but ends up being very funny, even to the characters, later on of course.

In conclusion, the film is a great watch if you're looking to turn your mind off at the end of a very long day and want a good chuckle or looking to queeze at some cruel pranks. It's not a film that you watch if you're wanting plot twists, looking to unravel a mystery, or enjoy a rom-com with your partner rather it's perfect if you're missing your friends and looking forward to connecting with them (especially because of the pandemic) and having a good time like the characters do in the Buddy Games. I give the movie a 6.4/10 because it manages to continue providing laughter throughout out entire film in weird ways while also instilling a powerful message that is literally repeated multiple times in the movie so you don't forget it and that message is "you don't stop playing because you get old, you get old because you stop play."