Time-travelling action flick: Mike & Nick & Nick & Alice proves an enjoyable, low-stakes click
mike & nick & nick & alice is a time-travelling action-comedy shot in Winnipeg in the fall of 2024, written and directed by BenDavid Grabinski and built around a mix of romance and gangland intrigue. The film centers on a time-travel device pitched by a theoretical scientist/influencer named Symon and a Future Nick who returns six months to enlist Present Nick on a dangerous night of parties and double-crosses. Published March 27, 2026 (ET).
Expanding details
BenDavid Grabinski’s film was shot in Winnipeg and uses a local production footprint to deliver a glossy but scrappy tone that reviewers have likened to other recent two-fisted studio entries while insisting it remains distinct. Ben Schwartz plays Symon, described in the film as an equal parts Doc Brown/Jean-Ralphio character; Eiza González portrays mob wife Alice, and Vince Vaughn appears as hit man Nick — a role that splits into Present Nick and Future Nick as the plot hinges on saving someone dear to both men. James Marsden plays Quick-Draw Mike, the friend and partner Nick must reach, and Jimmy Tatro appears as Jimmy Boy, whose release from prison frames an evening of violence and celebration. The cast also includes Keith David as the mob boss figure and a broader ensemble that supports the time-travel setup and action set pieces.
Immediate reactions: Mike & Nick & Nick & Alice
Early commentary notes that the film opens with an unexpected musical moment — Ben Schwartz singing “Why Should I Worry?” — a choice that sets a playful tone. Critics characterize the dialogue as precise and lighthearted, with recurring pop-culture asides and a mix of stabby, shoot-’em-up sequences that favor kinetic, old-school action choreography. Reviewers also single out Vince Vaughn for bringing unexpected depth to the dual-Nick premise, while the writer-director’s taste for hyper-specific references and tonal variety marks the picture as the work of a distinct filmmaker rather than an algorithm-driven product.
What’s next
The picture’s streaming release is described as arriving on digital platforms on a Friday, placing the film in the streaming-era marketplace where its blend of time travel, romance and mob-thriller elements will be judged alongside contemporary genre fare. Viewers and industry watchers will be looking to see whether the Winnipeg-shot production translates into broader awards attention or streaming traction, and whether Grabinski’s stylistic choices prompt additional locally lensed projects with similar ambitions. mike & nick & nick & alice closes as a playful, low-stakes action entry that leans on performance and craft rather than grand claims, leaving open how audiences will embrace its tonal mix in the weeks after release.
