Why The Wrong Girls Thrills Some and Frustrates Others

Every so often a film arrives that feels like a noisy dinner-party argument: loud, messy, irresistible to some and mildly infuriating to others. The Wrong Girls lands squarely in that camp. Directed and written by Dylan Meyer in her feature debut, it’s a stoner-inflected comedy that relies on chemistry, absurd setups, and a cast willing to go full tilt into chaotic territory.

Kristen Stewart leads alongside Alia Shawkat and a stacked supporting roster — Lakeith Stanfield, Tony Hale, Seth Rogen, Kumail Nanjiani, Kate McKinnon, Gina Davis among them — and the ensemble keeps the film’s engine running even when the jokes wobble. At its heart the story is simple: two inseparable friends, scraping by on small paychecks and bigger problems, get mistaken for other people and watch their lives unravel into a series of increasingly strange, hilarious, and unpredictable misadventures. Think of it as a friendship movie that took a wrong turn into a surreal comedy club.

Critical reception

The reaction from critics has been mixed-but-leaning-positive. On Rotten Tomatoes, The Wrong Girls sits at 67 percent based on 27 reviews. Metacritic compiles 12 reviews and gives the film a 61 out of 100. Those numbers tell you the film does enough to charm some viewers while leaving others cold.

At the high end, IndieWire’s reviewer rated the film 91 out of 100, calling Meyer a surprising and energetic new voice — a director who revives the American stoner comedy with panache. TheWrap and The Hollywood Reporter landed solid 80s, praising the movie’s sense of direction and its affectionate, delightfully dumb heart. Reviewers in this camp celebrate the film as a ride: raucous, sometimes reckless, often sweet.

Mid-range takes note the film’s strengths — a relentless appetite for jokes, strong ensemble work, and a tone that embraces silliness — but point out it rarely reinvents its formula. Screen Daily gave it a 70, admiring the movie’s consistently ridiculous tone. SlashFilm, at 65, suggested that while The Wrong Girls won’t necessarily revive interest in stoner comedies, it doesn’t need to; part of its pleasure is watching two pals get into trouble, sing Celine Dion, and declare their undying bond between smoke breaks.

Not everyone was amused. Screen Rant and The Guardian landed harsher verdicts, each giving a 40. Critics here argued the laughs are uneven and that the movie sometimes feels better suited to a background stream than a theatrical outing. The Guardian conceded the film likely provided a good time on set, but said the finished picture can feel too enamored with its own giddiness.

So what does that mix of opinions mean for viewers? If you prize chemistry and are willing to forgive scattershot structure for the sake of big, absurd moments, The Wrong Girls will probably click. If you prefer tightly plotted comedies or humor that refuses to wobble, it might grate. The film is less an essay on originality and more a mood — one that will either sweep you up or leave you checking your watch.

Either way, Meyer’s first feature announces a distinctive voice. It’s messy. It’s loud. It wants to be shared. Watch it with someone who laughs loudly. Then argue about it over coffee.