Los Angeles‑based director Dylan Meyer, whose father Nicholas Meyer directed *Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan*, makes his feature‑film debut with the stoner comedy *The Wrong Girls*. The film centers on roommates Frankie (Kristen Stewart) and Molly (Alia Shawkat), two young women who spend their days in a colorful Spanish‑bungalow apartment they call the “Casa de Chill Zone.”
Plot and Setting
Frankie and Molly spend their time “shaking and baking,” surrounded by a Celine Dion cardboard cutout wearing a marijuana necklace, a custom‑made “Bong‑a‑Tron” water pipe, and a television mounted on the ceiling for late‑night nature documentaries. Their routine is interrupted when they ingest a glowing liquid derived from a giant squid’s fluid, a psychedelic drug that grants them temporary telepathic powers.
The drug is created by Dr. Olsen (Kate McKinnon), a wacky scientist who explains that giant squids communicate telepathically in the deep ocean. The girls’ newfound abilities let them hear the thoughts of their two cats, voiced by Seth Rogen and Kumail Nanjiani, adding a layer of absurd humor.
Supporting Cast and Cameos
LaKeith Stanfield appears as a metalhead named Dave, who is actually a secret operative tasked with delivering a briefcase of the squid‑derived drug. He mistakenly gives the vial to Frankie, setting the plot in motion. Tony Hale plays a wealthy Stanford alumnus whose party the girls crash in an attempt to sell the drug, while Geena Davis makes a cameo as Dr. Chapman, a colleague of Dr. Olsen.
Additional cameos include Cate Blanchett as a deep‑sea expert and Sugar Lyn Beard as the villainous Mr. Kock, who sends Dutch‑speaking thugs after the girls. The soundtrack features punk bands from Philadelphia, including Mannequin Pussy and Sheer Mag, as well as original scoring by Ty Segall.
Characters’ Lives
Molly works from home doing data entry and dreams of becoming a chef, known for her weed‑infused blue‑cheese brownies. Frankie, a former Stanford engineering student, now works part‑time as a delivery driver after leaving school due to a nervous breakdown. Both live paycheck‑to‑paycheck, and overdue rent drives much of the story’s urgency.
Zack Fox portrays Molly’s boyfriend, who urges her to move in for financial stability, while Frankie remains single. Rumors swirl about Frankie’s ex, Morgan Krantz, dating her doppelgänger, leading to a club confrontation and a brief musical showdown.
Tone and Reception
The film blends 1990s stoner‑comedy vibes with a punk‑rock aesthetic, drawing comparisons to Alex Cox’s *Repo Man* rather than classic “high‑jinks” fare like *Cheech & Chong*. Its whimsical set pieces—such as the ceiling‑mounted TV and the elaborate “Bong‑a‑Tron”—provide visual humor, while the telepathy subplot adds a sci‑fi twist.
Overall, *The Wrong Girls* offers a light‑hearted, chaotic ride that may appeal to fans of off‑beat comedies and punk music. The reviewer awards it three and a half stars.
Original reporting: Fort Worth Report — read the source article.
