Dicks: The Musical (2023) – Review and Summary
Josh Sharp and Aaron Jackson’s “Dicks: The Musical” is gross, horrid, and very funny. If you ever wanted to see John Waters’ version of The Parent Trap, this movie is for you.
“Dicks: The Musical” General Information
| Director(s) | Larry Charles |
| Screenplay By | Aaron Jackson and Josh Sharp |
| Based On | “Identical Fucking Twins,” a musical written by Aaron Jackson and Josh Sharp |
| Date Released (In Theaters) | October 6, 2023 |
| Genre(s) | ComedyLGBT+ |
| Film Length | 1 Hour, 26 Minutes |
| Content Rating | Rated R |
| Noted Characters and Cast | |
| Craig | Josh Sharp |
| Trevor | Aaron Jackson |
| Harris | Nathan Lane |
| Evelyn | Megan Mullally |
| God | Bowen Yang |
Content Rating Explanation
“Dicks: The Musical” is Rated R due to strong profanity and sexual content with a dash of violence and drug usage.
Film Summary
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After viewing “Dicks: The Musical,” some audience members clapped while another audibly announced, “Thank god it’s over!” Those are the two reactions you’ll have to this litmus test of a movie. Aaron Jackson and Josh Sharp’s near-90-minute musical is bright, queer, energetic, crass, and gleefully gross. Oh, it’s also funny. But if you’re not laughing within the first three minutes at the story being narrated by God (Bowen Yang) and a clearly-gay Trevor singing “My cock is fucking massive,” you’re going to have a rough 83 minutes left.
“Dicks: The Musical” is a loose adaptation of “Parent Trap,” if the Disney classic was told by John Waters. Craig (Josh Sharp) and Trevor (Aaron Jackson) are two arrogant, misogynistic businessmen who only care about being their company’s top seller. But when the two jerks meet, they realize they have a lot in common: they’re born on the same day, they both have large penises, and they both look alike (they don’t, but just go with it). Craig and Trevor (who often confuse themselves for one another) realize they are identical twins.
Separated at birth, Craig and Trevor’s parents went their separate ways. The two plan for their parents to reunite so they can become the family they always wanted. But their mother, Evelyn (Megan Mullally), is a wheelchair-bound recluse who spends her days at home talking to inanimate objects. Their father, Harris (Nathan Lane), is a gay man who tends to these grotesque, tiny sewer monsters he calls his “Sewer Boys.” Reuniting their parents is going to take more effort than they thought, and while Craig and Trevor’s jobs are on the line, their newfound brotherhood also makes them question their entire lifestyle.
That’s all I’ll reveal about “Dicks: The Musical,” a comedy that can be an outrageous good time with the right crowd but a shocking horror with the wrong one. “Dicks: The Musical” may not be for everyone, but it doesn’t want to be. It proudly waves its freak flag and asks you to do the same.
Other Noteworthy Information
- “Dicks: The Musical” started as a stage production by the same writers and stars.
Character Descriptions
Please Note: This character guide is not an exhaustive list of every cast member, and character descriptions may contain what can be considered spoilers.
Craig
An arrogant, misogynistic pig who spends his days selling tiny brushes and having sex. But when Craig discovers he has a brother and a mother, he realizes a piece of him has been missing this entire time.
- The actor is also known for their role in “The Chris Gethard Show.”
Trevor
Also an arrogant, misogynistic pig who spends his days selling tiny brushes and having sex. But when Trevor discovers he has a brother and a father, he realizes a piece of him has been missing this entire time.
- The actor is also known for their role in “The National Lampoon Radio Hour.”
Harris
Harris is Craig and Trevor’s father, but he only raised Craig. Harris is a kind man who is gay and sometimes straight and enjoys his time with these tiny, grotesque creatures he keeps in a cage.
- The actor is also known for their role in “The Birdcage,” their role in “The Lion King,” and their role in “Beau is Afraid.”
Evelyn
Evelyn is Craig and Trevor’s mother, but she only raised Trevor. She may be wheelchair-bound, but she often dances with her legs and feet. She also has no sense of time and talks to inanimate objects as if they were her friend. Also, her vagina fell off.
- The actor is also known for their role in “Will and Grace,” their role in “Children’s Hospital,” and their role in “Bob’s Burgers.”
God
God often narrates and gives commentary on the story we’re watching. He sometimes intervenes with events when he so chooses.
- The actor is also known for their role in “Saturday Night Live,” their role in “Awkwafina is Nora from Queens,” and their role in “Fire Island.”
Review
Our Rating: Positive (Worth Seeing)
Highlights
Performances Commit to Premise’s Lunacy
Everyone is essentially a cartoon in “Dicks: The Musical.” They’re animated, bouncy, and perform with campy and crazed delight. The actors are clearly having fun on set, but their fun is contagious. The comedy works because the performances are committed to the melodrama, the madness, and all the mayhem the movie has to offer.
Laughter that Will Make You Groan and Hide Your Face
“Dicks: The Musical” may be about a family, but it’s no family movie. Without giving away the film’s hilarious and jaw-dropping climax, the movie has plenty of moments that demand a bodily reaction. To be shocking in 2023 is no easy feat, but the movie happily takes you by the hand and rushes you through this world of talking vaginas, flesh-eating sewage monsters, and a rap number from Megan Thee Stallion.
On The Fence
Thin Plot is Stretched Even Thinner
“Dicks: The Musical” is wisely a short movie, yet even at 86 minutes, the plot can wear thin. Its relentless high-speed can sometimes be exhausting, and when the story seemingly runs out of plot an hour in, the movie can meander. Most comedies intentionally have a thin plot to fill the movie with as many gags as possible, but a structural problem can emerge when the audience is asked to invest in a story that effectively ends two-thirds through the movie.
Who Is This For?
Fans of subversive or absurdist humor might enjoy “Dicks: The Musical.” If you like John Waters movies, lgbtq stories, or sketch comedy, “Dicks: The Musical” may fill that hole.
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