No limits on fun
John Cena gets the party started in ‘Vacation Friends’
“Vacation Friends” gets laughs from the comedic collision of its two couples who meet on vacation at a high-end Mexican resort. Marcus (Lil Rel Howery) and his almost-fiancee Emily (Yvonne Orji) are buttoned-up and extremely orderly.
In dramatic contrast, John Cena’s Ron and his partner Kyla (Meredith Hagner) offer Marcus and Emily a room in their expansive Presidential Suite and a toast with extra-large margaritas.
“This salt,” Marcus notes of the wide white rim at the top of each cocktail, “is very mild.”
“That’s because,” Ron explains, “it’s cocaine.”
So begins one wild week when party-hearty Ron shows his new besties a better way to living life large. Seven months later, long after “What happens on vacation, stays on vacation,” Ron and Kyla crash Marcus and Emily’s Atlanta wedding.
“Obviously for me to play comedy is to lean into the stereotypes of this big guy, he’s such an emotional person,” Cena, 44, said in a virtual press conference.
“Any great comedy takes situations and makes them hysterically absurd. When I read the script, (I thought) this is where I am in my life right now! I’m trying to be more present and solidify my tasks in life.”
“Vacation Friends” requires ample doses of sentiment and silliness.
“Both were quite easy,” the West Newbury native noted, “because I’m surrounded by wonderful comedians. Literally I just sit there and let them be themselves.
“And we all had a really cool connection on set in Puerto Rico, literally like a vacation, kind of just us hanging out. Then the pandemic happened and we shut down.”
Back at work, “We had those bonding moments of, ‘What have you been doing for the last how many months?’ We had a genuine time to connect as people and that helped the chemistry on camera.
“Being a physical performer in the WWE, what the script provided was physical comedy. I’ve always liked that.”
Which is why Cena sees Ron and Kyla, as disruptive as they are, positively.
“Respect is a boomerang and you get what you give. So I don’t think there’s anything truly disrespectful about the two of them. They just operate under a construct that doesn’t necessarily adhere what we think is structural society.
“They’re fast and loose and they really enjoy the present — that’s a very rare commodity. I’ve met people like them in real life and had a blast.
“I don’t know how far I’d go with ’em, I don’t know if I’d ride that wave. But I certainly would enjoy their company.”