The Wrong Girls — Review
Source: Neon
Stoner comedies might be one of the most subjective genres to evaluate. Not only is the genre’s sense of humor an acquired taste, but there are also many additional factors that can determine how someone responds to a movie. For example, viewers who smoke will find these films more relatable than those who do not, while watching a movie under the influence versus sober could completely change someone’s perspective on it. These films also tend to rely on a deliberately silly or stupid sense of humor, meaning that a person’s mood can greatly affect how funny they find them. As a result, someone’s opinion of a stoner comedy can vary drastically depending on the time, place, and circumstances in which they watch it. Dylan Meyer’s The Wrong Girls demonstrates both the appeal and limitations of the stoner comedy genre, featuring moments of genuine comedic potential alongside humor that may not consistently land with every viewer. However, it is rare that we see female-fronted stoner comedies, and that is what makes this movie special.
Source: Neon
The film follows Frankie (Kristen Stewart) and her best friend and roommate, Molly (Alia Shawkat), two constantly stoned women who are struggling to pay their rent. Imagine the dynamic between the two leads in Lawrence Lamont’s One of Them Days (2025). Now imagine if they were both as stupid and stoned as the protagonist in Gregg Araki’s Smiley Face (2007). Meyer’s screenplay also feels reminiscent of the Coen brothers’ The Big Lebowski (1998), with its case of mistaken identity. At a Mannequin Pussy concert, Frankie gets confused for a woman named Frances (also played by Kristen Stewart). This leads to her going home with a man she calls Not Metal Head Dave (LaKeith Stanfield), who hands her a mysterious briefcase. Unlike movies that use a similar setup and keep the contents of the briefcase a mystery for most of the film, The Wrong Girls reveals what’s inside almost immediately. Frankie uses “science” to figure out that the code on the briefcase is 069. It’s a moment that firmly establishes the film’s silly tone and intentionally immature sense of humor.
Source: Universal Pictures
The briefcase contains a mysterious psychedelic drug, which Frankie and Molly naturally decide to consume. As expected, it quickly becomes clear that this substance is something a lot of people want to get their hands on, putting the two women in danger. From there, The Wrong Girls spirals into a series of increasingly chaotic situations and bizarre encounters. The film is not interested in taking itself too seriously. It fully embraces the ridiculous nature of its premise and leans into the absurdity. However, part of me wishes it leaned even further into the absurdity and went completely off the rails. Augustine Frizzell’s Never Goin’ Back (2018) had already given me everything I was hoping to get out of The Wrong Girls, and more. That is not to say two movies cannot do similar things, especially when there are countless stoner buddy comedies with male leads. But The Wrong Girls has a sci-fi twist reminiscent of Alex Cox’s Repo Man (1984), and I wish it had taken greater advantage of that premise. Going further off the rails could have made the movie a much more memorable experience.
Source: Neon
Much of the humor comes from the dynamic between Frankie and Molly. As Not Metal Head Dave and Dr. Olsen (Kate McKinnon) succinctly sum up, they are a couple of “bozos.” Their tendency to make one foolish decision after another is essentially the engine that drives the comedy. If you get frustrated watching characters make obviously terrible decisions, The Wrong Girls will probably test your patience. Then again, that is part of the appeal of most stoner comedies. What makes this dynamic feel somewhat fresh is that we rarely see this type of idiotic, drug-fueled buddy comedy centered around women. Movies like Pineapple Express (2008), Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure (1989), Dude, Where’s My Car? (2000), and Dumb and Dumber (1994) have traditionally put male characters in these roles. The Wrong Girls may be working with a familiar formula, but putting women at the center gives it a slightly different perspective.
Source: Neon
The performances are sufficiently convincing, and the chemistry between Stewart and Shawkat suggests that they are genuinely close friends. The real standout, however, is LaKeith Stanfield. Much like his role in Boots Riley’s I Love Boosters (2026), both his performance and his enigmatic character are so compelling that the film becomes more engrossing whenever he is on screen. From a technical standpoint, the film also experiments with its visuals and sound design to convey the psychedelic experience of being high. Ty Segall’s score is another highlight, helping maintain the film’s momentum even when the pacing begins to falter. Truth be told, The Wrong Girls does feel a bit longer than necessary for a stoner comedy with such a familiar storyline.
The Wrong Girls is entertaining enough, but both the humor and the story are a tad uneven. It has plenty of funny moments, but it did not have me laughing consistently, and a lot of the jokes fell noticeably flat. Because of that, the story is not exactly strong enough to make up for the slower stretches between the laughs. It has the type of absurd energy that could make it a cult favorite for some viewers, but it does not leave enough of an impression to fully get there.
Source: Neon
Ultimately, whether or not The Wrong Girls works depends largely on the viewer. For me, it was enjoyable enough that I do not regret watching it, but it is not something I would go out of my way to revisit or recommend. Stoner comedy enthusiasts may find plenty to appreciate, while others may struggle with its uneven humor and unremarkable storyline. It is the type of film that feels like it was a blast for the cast and crew to make, but it made me wish I was having just as much fun watching it. While it is sure to generate some laughs, it never quite reaches the level of originality or consistency needed to stand out among the more memorable entries in the stoner comedy genre. The silly humor and bizarre hijinks will not appeal to everyone, but The Wrong Girls is a reminder that women deserve their share of stupid stoner comedies too, even if this one falls a bit short.
The Wrong Girls hits theaters on August 14, 2026.
