Pizza Movie SXSW Review

Over the years, I’ve had plenty of conversations with friends and people I meet about what sometimes feels like the death of the comedy movie. That’s not to say comedies aren’t still being made—it’s just that the way we consume them has changed. These days, most comedies seem to land on streaming services instead of in theaters, which means we’re watching them at home instead of with a crowd. And for me, that takes away a little bit of the magic.

The two genres that really benefit from a full theater are comedy and horror. There’s something special about feeling the entire room react together—whether it’s laughing or screaming. Watching at home doesn’t mean a comedy can’t still be funny, though, and Nick Kocher and Brian McElhaney’s new film Pizza Movie proves exactly that.

College is supposed to be fun, but that’s not really the case for Jake (Gaten Matarazzo) and Montgomery (Sean Giambrone), who seem to be the favorite targets of the campus bullies. Jake’s problems appear to stem from something he did to the football team—though we never quite find out what that was—and Montgomery can’t seem to work up the courage to ask Ashley (Peyton Elizabeth Lee) out, no matter how many opportunities he gets.

One night, though, things take a wild turn.

The boys discover some drugs that have apparently been sitting around the dorm for years. Taking them might not have been the best decision, because the side effects quickly start to kick in—and this particular drug comes with a lot of strings attached. Suddenly, the night turns into a full-blown adventure as Jake, Montgomery, and their old friend Lizzy (Lulu Wilson) try to survive the increasingly bizarre stages of the drug and all the chaos that comes with it.

Written and directed by Kocher and McElhaney, Pizza Movie is a well-intentioned stoner comedy that throws jokes and gags at you nonstop. What initially caught my attention—besides my love of pizza—was the wonderfully simple premise: a group of high college students trying to navigate two flights of stairs to pick up a pizza they ordered. Honestly, who wouldn’t want to go on that adventure?

And I’m glad I did, because Pizza Movie’s over-the-top narrative ends up being exactly the kind of absurd ride many of us could use right now.

I had a great time with this movie, but like any slice of pizza, not every bite is going to taste perfect. That’s totally fine here, though, because the film throws so many jokes your way that for every one that misses, four more land. The result is a movie that pretty much guarantees a good time.

A big reason it works is the commitment from the cast. Matarazzo and Giambrone handle the comedic heavy lifting really well, but the performances aren’t the only thing that make the movie click. The design of the different drug “stages” is surprisingly inventive and filled with clever ideas, giving the audience one absurd trip after another.

That said, there are definitely moments that feel a little disposable—almost by design—and even at just over ninety minutes, the film can feel slightly long.

But for Pizza Movie, that’s honestly okay. Like pizza itself, it’s the kind of movie that could easily become comfort viewing—something you throw on, relax, and just enjoy for its ridiculous, chaotic energy.