Review: 'Dicks: The Musical' is Wild, but Not Wild Enough

"Dicks: The Musical" is about as ridiculous and outrageous as its name would lead you to believe. But as out there as the film gets – there are characters known as "The Sewer Boys," after all – it somehow doesn't quite seem to be as ridiculous as it should (and could) be.

Realizing that they are living a (never specifically referenced) "Parent Trap" situation, salespersons Craig and Trevor find out that they are actually identical twins separated at birth when their offices are merged under a new boss (played by a sorely underused Megan Thee Stallion). The pair have everything they want except a stereotypical nuclear family, which they decide to create by swapping places and tricking their parents to meet up.

Because this is a musical, their hijinks are punctuated with songs such as "Gay Old Life," "I'll Always Be On Top," and "The Sewer Song." Commendably, all of the music is original for the film, and includes some really fun songs, especially the Megan Thee Stallion-fronted "Out Alpha the Alpha."

Stars Aaron Jackson and Josh Sharp also wrote the script, based on their stage show, but they have a hard time finding the right equilibrium. At times when they should pull back, they double down on the ridiculousness, and when they should lean into the situations, they don't go far enough. That's not to say that there aren't laughs to be had in the over-the-top tale, because there are; it's just kind of stop-and-go, from a flying, detached vagina with eyes and cannibalistic, sewer-dwelling monsters to the moments between the four family members that should have grounded the film and made the laugh-inducing more ridiculous moments feel more earned.

One thing is obvious from the bloopers shown during the end credits: The four core cast members (Jackson and Sharp, as well as Nathan Lane and Megan Mullally, playing their parents) were having a blast making the film. It's almost as if they were just having fun, waiting to see when the studio might realize what they were doing and shut everything down. Both Lane and Mullally are more than game for everything that is asked of them, and are a joy to watch throughout.

"Dicks: The Musical" has its laugh-out-loud moments, and is sure to be a gay camp classic. Just don't expect these "Dicks" to rock your world.

"Dicks: The Musical" opens in theaters nationwide on October 20.