Review: THE WRONG GIRLS (2026)
Dylan Myer lights one up for the girlies in her debut film, THE WRONG GIRLS. While stoner films traditionally feature male leads, Myer delivers a comedy grounded in female friendship and fueled by quirky on-screen chemistry.
Best friends Frankie (Kristen Stewart, PERSONAL SHOPPER) and Molly (Alia Shawkat, THE FINAL GIRLS) are a co-dependent pair struggling to pay their rent. The two LA roommates attempt to bring in some cash with remote data entry work and door-to-door deliveries. To make matters worse, Frankie is grieving a breakup. When she decides to go to a show (sadly, without her bestie who stayed behind with her boyfriend), she runs into her ex’s new love interest who could be her doppelgänger. A radical mix-up ensues and Frankie is thrown into a whirlwind involving a secret scientific discovery, foreign antagonists, and an alluring substance that has powerful side effects.
Myer throws several curveballs Frankie and Molly’s way. Drunk and disoriented Frankie goes home with a mysterious stranger dubbed “Not Metal Head Dave” (LaKeith Stanfield, I LOVE BOOSTERS) who mistakenly gives her a briefcase she has to deliver. Hungover and curious, the girls crack it open only to discover a glowing liquid they think they can sell for quick cash. They sample the product, which leads them to develop supernatural powers like telekinesis and telepathy.
While navigating their newfound abilities and disorienting trip, Frankie and Molly are chased by a crew of Dutch henchmen dressed in white suits who miraculously manage to never stain their outfits in pursuit of the experimental drug. Similar to classic stoner comedies like DUDE, WHERE’S MY CAR? and PINEAPPLE EXPRESS, the plot unfolds into a game of cat and mouse as the girls try to outrun their assailants and deal with a brief falling out before reuniting in the third act. Their antics are accompanied by a killer soundtrack courtesy of punk band Mannequin Pussy, Ty Segall, and a couple of beloved Celine Dion tracks.
Myer subverts the stoner comedy genre with a focus on female friendship and two leads who are more intellectual than they initially let on. Frankie is a Stanford engineering dropout who constructs elaborately functional bongs, while Molly is an aspiring chef with high emotional intelligence, always assessing situations for opportunities and danger. Their dedication to one another, playful banter, and carefree personalities allow the film to rise above the tawdry cameos sprinkled throughout. Kate McKinnon plays an eccentric scientist, the girls’ pet cats are voiced by Seth Rogen and Kumail Nanjiani, while Geena Davis and Cate Blanchett also join the cast. THE WRONG GIRLS will likely prove polarizing, particularly for viewers attuned to its deliberately chaotic sense of humor, while others may find the high more of a lackluster buzzkill due to its predictability.
Despite its attempts at narrative distinction, THE WRONG GIRLS isn’t the strongest hit in the genre. While some intoxicated scenarios generate solid jokes, the comedic elements are predictable and more overdone than half-baked. However, Stewart and Shawkat are clearly having a great time in their respective roles, and their chemistry on-screen is palpable.
THE WRONG GIRLS has the potential to be a cult classic in the long run but fades into the background despite its effort to stand out.
