Buddy Games (2019)

Buddy Games is the kind of raunchy, full-contact comedy that commits to its premise with the reckless confidence of friends daring each other to do something stupid—and actually doing it. Josh Duhamel directs with an affable, beer-soaked swagger, letting the movie’s absurd challenges and bruised camaraderie carry the momentum while Dan Bakkedahl, wonderfully unguarded, sells the pain and pride underneath the partying. The vibe is loud, crude, and unapologetically R-rated, the sort of hangout-from-hell where the laughs come from watching grown men test their limits and their friendships in equal measure. If you’re allergic to nonstop sexual humor, graphic nudity, and profanity-as-a-second-language, steer clear—but if you want a shameless, occasionally wickedly funny boys’ weekend in movie form, this one delivers.

Buddy Games is aiming for a raunchy, old-school “guys being idiots” comedy about friendship, rivalry, and one last shot at recapturing youth through ridiculous challenges. The problem is it leans so hard on gross-out shocks, nonstop crude sexual jokes, and loud gags that it rarely lands real comedy or gives you characters worth rooting for, and the plot often feels like an excuse to jump to the next stunt. If you’re not already on board with graphic nudity, relentless profanity, and juvenile humor that treats discomfort as the punchline, this will feel more exhausting than funny. That said, if you genuinely miss the early-2000s frat-comedy vibe and can enjoy a few committed physical bits without needing much story, you might get a passable “turn your brain off” watch.