Disney+ drops wild comedy 'pizza movie' – you missed it?

Disney+ just pulled a fast one on subscribers. Buried within April's rollout of familiar titles like Mamma Mia!, a genuinely bizarre and hilarious comedy, Pizza Movie, slipped onto the platform without fanfare. And those who stumbled upon it? They're reporting one of the best unexpected viewing experiences in recent memory.

A genre mashup unlike anything else

Pizza Movie isn't easily categorized. It’s a heady mix of the raunchy college comedies reminiscent of Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle and the chaotic, sex-fueled antics of American Pie. But here’s the twist: the marijuana is swapped for a fictional drug called M.I.N.T.S., and the quest for fast food transforms into a desperate search for—you guessed it—pizza.

The film follows Jack (Gaten Matarazzo, best known from Stranger Things) and Montgomery (Sean Giambrone), two college underdogs navigating the usual trials of campus life: bullying for Jack and romantic frustration for Montgomery. Their discovery of an experimental drug promises a mellow high, but delivers a psychedelic trip of epic proportions, culminating in a frantic search for pizza, purportedly the only antidote to its effects. The premise spirals into a surreal adventure, potentially life-altering for the hapless duo.

Unexpected talent and a dash of absurdity

The cast is a delightful surprise. Matarazzo sheds his Stranger Things persona with remarkable ease, proving a natural comedic talent. Giambrone, a veteran of The Goldbergs, seems to be transitioning towards voice acting, but proves he still has chops on screen. Lulu Wilson, recognizable from her work in horror films like Ouija and The Haunting of Hill House, adds a layer of quirky energy. And then there’s Daniel Radcliffe, providing the voice for a butterfly—a detail best left unexplained, given the film's overall surrealism.

Why disney+’s marketing missed the mark

The real story here isn't just the film itself, but Disney+'s baffling marketing strategy. To bury a genuinely unique and entertaining comedy like this amidst a list of re-runs is a colossal oversight. A little promotion during Easter weekend—a period ripe for discovery—could have transformed Pizza Movie into a viral hit. The lack of visibility is a disservice to both the filmmakers and potential viewers.

Should you watch it?

Despite a few moments of slightly sanitized humor, Pizza Movie is a genuinely fun ride. It embraces absurdity without reservation, delivering consistent laughs and a refreshingly unconventional cinematic experience. It’s a throwback to a bygone era of irreverent comedy, proving that there’s still room for delightfully silly movies in a world increasingly obsessed with prestige and hyper-seriousness.

Pizza Movie is currently streaming on Disney+ via Hulu; it runs 97 minutes and is available for streaming now. Don’t let Disney+'s missteps prevent you from discovering this hidden gem.