By Paul Hall
April Fools Day was definitely a different animal in 2020, but the laughs came home as Impractical Jokers: The Movie had an early release via digital platforms.
The series has been a mainstay on truTV since December 2011 and is only five weeks removed from its theatrical run. At a time when laughs are needed, these jokers are there to deliver.
The film’s plot is simply a setup for our four main players to take part in an assortment of jokes on a road trip from Staten Island to Florida. Murr (James Murray), Q (Brian Quinn), Joe (Joe Gatto) and Sal (Sal Vulcano) have redemption on their mind as they head to a Paula Abdul performance in the Sunshine State. It was years earlier that they disrupted a concert of hers, and she has since turned into one of their biggest fans. But the guys only have three tickets to the show, so they decide to have a practical joke-off on the way to determine who will not attend, and that is where the fun lies.
Along the road, they’ll do everything from trying out eulogies to getting roadside assistance and from speaking at a social media conference to having job interviews with the Atlanta Hawks and so much more. The catch is nothing is as easy as it seems.
Can they make it to Florida and, more importantly, who will lose the prank battle?
Impractical Jokers: The Movie comes home at the right time and elicited belly laughs from me. Although I admit that I was not someone who watched the series, I found myself laughing at the clever nature of the jokes and the wittiness and the stars’ commitment to their delivery.
My favorite skits included the social media presentation and the looks in the room during it, and the variety of job interviews with the Atlanta Hawks that elicited quizzical responses. The film shows good sports in every instance, and the jokes were never mean to the unsuspecting participants. That good fun makes the film truly enjoyable.
Sure, the plot, or lack thereof, doesn’t work and instead feels like a thinly veiled reason to get Paula Abdul in the film. But, it was good to see Abdul along with Jaden Smith and Joey Fatone, who all have bit roles, though they were merely window dressings in the convoluted plot to get the guys on the road, and not important to the overall laughs.
In a day and age when we are looking for a good laugh, Impractical Jokers: The Movie hit the funny bone squarely; in fact, no joke, I’ve already enjoyed multiple viewings and think you’ll enjoy being able to see it multiple times as well.
Paul’s Grade: B
Impractical Jokers: The Movie
Rated PG-13
Stars: Brian Quinn, Joe Gatto, James Murray, Sal Vulcano, Paula Abdul
Director: Chris Henchy
Available as of April 1 as an early release to digitally download and enjoy at online retailers everywhere, including iTunes, FandangoNOW, Amazon Prime Video and more.