Impractical Jokers: The Movie is a 2020 American reality comedy film directed by Chris Henchy, based on the truTV television series Impractical Jokers. The film stars Brian Quinn, James Murray, Sal Vulcano, and Joe Gatto, also known as The Tenderloins. It was theatrically released on February 21, 2020.
Plot[]
In 1994 Staten Island, a group of four teenage friends, Joe, Sal, Murr and Q sneak into a Paula Abdul concert disguised as security personnel. However, they accidentally ruin the concert after Joe jumped out on stage and poorly acted as a hype man. The outcome embarrassed them and angered Abdul, who vows to get her revenge on the Jokers.
Twenty-five years later, the four have become famous celebrities as a result of their TV show, Impractical Jokers, and manage to run into Abdul at a Red Lobster. She admits that she is a huge fan of the show, and invites them to a party in Miami. However, shortly after Paula left, the group realized she gave them only three tickets instead of four, meaning that one person will not be able to go. In order to decide who will be left out, they decide to road trip to Miami using Q's 1986 Ford LTD Crown Victoria. while competing with each other in hidden-camera challenges; the one who loses will not get a ticket. From locking Sal in a motel room with a chained tiger, to Q's car being stolen by the others forcing him to have to ride a horse, they travel the east coast doing numerous challenges. However, in Georgia, after a few challenges, Joe, Q, and Murr want to quit and turn back home, but Sal disagrees and reminds them that they have to finish what they started. The rest of them then agree with Sal and continued the trek to Miami.
They compete in one last challenge along the way, and when they arrive in Miami, Murr ends up being the loser. As a result, he stays behind at the hotel while the others go to the party, until Murr decides to sneak into the show using the same security disguise. This results in Abdul recognizing them from when they crashed her concert 25 years ago. The next day, Joe tells the jokers that he received an offer to go on tour with Abdul as a hype man, but turned it down. Since Murr sneaked into the party, the others decide to subject him to one last punishment. Joe, Q, and Sal fly back to Staten Island on a private jet, while Murr rides harnessed to the top wing of a Boeing-Stearman Model 75.
Cast[]
- Brian Quinn as himself
- Joe Gatto as himself
- James Murray as himself
- Sal Vulcano as himself
- Paula Abdul as herself
- Kane Hodder as Paula Abdul’s bodyguard
- Jaden Smith as himself
- Joey Fatone as himself
- Will Ferrell as Miami Restaurant Guy #4
Production[]
Development[]
The film was produced by The Tenderloins, Chris Henchy (who also served as the director), Buddy Enright and Funny or Die's Jim Ziegler. The film was executively produced by Mike Farah and Joe Farrell of Funny or Die, Marissa Ronca, Chris Linn & Jack Rovner.
Filming[]
Principal photography for the film began in May 2018, in New York. The cinematographers used professional sound and video quality unlike the TV show to make the movie have a better aesthetic. Filming concluded on June 5, 2018.
Release[]
Theaters[]
On September 20, 2019, it was announced that the film would be released in 2020 through WarnerMedia. In December, TruTV released a trailer and announced a February 21, 2020 release in select theaters.
Digital[]
Initially intended to be released digitally in late 2020, TruTV released the film on April 1, 2020, due to nationwide shutdown of theaters amid the coronavirus pandemic in the United States. The film has also become available on HBO Max since being released on the service on September 1, 2020.
Reception[]
Box office[]
The film made a "very solid" $2.6 million from 357 theaters in its opening weekend. The film was added to 1,543 theaters in its second weekend and made $3.5 million, finishing seventh.
Critical response[]
On Rotten Tomatoes, the film holds an approval rating of 35% based on 26 reviews, with an average rating of 4.58/10. On Metacritic, the film has a weighted average score of 39 out of 100, based on five critics, indicating "generally unfavorable reviews."
