Double Date
Genre: Romantic Comedy
Director: Nicholas Stoller
Writer: Jacob Jones
Cast: Olivia Rodrigo, Joey King, David Iacono, Xolo Mariduena, Niles Fitch, Madison Wolfe
Plot: Inside her bedroom, a woman finishes up a provocative dance for her socials. Upon posting her video, The doorbell rings, causing the woman to rush downstairs to the living room, revealing the pizza delivery man.
The woman excitedly greets the man, named Elliot (Xolo Maridueña), who struggles to speak back, transfixed by her face. Trouble emerges, however, when the woman, named Maddie (Joey King) realizes that she left her wallet in her bedroom. Not wanting to waste his time, Maddie starts flirting with Elliot in an attempt to have the pizza for free, even batting her eyes at him. Finally, Elliot relents and tells her that she can pay him next time, causing Maddie to give him a hug. As Elliot leaves, Maddie brings her pizza in the living room, setting it on the table.
Meanwhile, out in the neighborhood, another woman slowly saunters down the sidewalk, calm, and collected. The rest of the neighborhood seems to stop to look at her in awe, but as the woman steps towards Maddie’s door, she finds everyone staring at a guy washing his car, wearing far too tight-fitting shorts for his own good. Maddie opens the door, coming face-to-face with the woman…
“Hey Mads, what’s up?”
Maddie gives her friend, Molly (Olivia Rodrigo) a big hug and starts excitedly rambling about how it’s been so long since they’ve last hung out. As soon as Molly sees the pizza, the two step towards the couch to talk about life.
An hour passes by and most of the pizza is gone, the two ladies still gabbing on about whatever is on their mind, occasionally paused whenever Molly gets a text. Eventually, the conversation dies down until Maddie asks:
“How have things been since…the breakup?”
Molly has been okay. She’s been talking to a guy named Chase (Niles Fitch) on Tinder, she’s just not sure if she's ready to commit. Maddie admits that she’s not much help, but she does know that if you know it’s right, then you should go for it. Maddie suggests that they let off some steam by going to the park, which Molly agrees to.
Molly and Maddie head outside when they notice that the house next door has been sold. Maddie’s new neighbor is an attractive-looking young man named Josh (David Iacono). Molly keeps her cool, calmly introduces herself and a starstruck Maddie. The two briefly chat before Josh heads to his house.
When Josh leaves, the following conversation occurs:
“…Molly, why is my new neighbor hot?”
“Dude, don’t say that out loud.”
“Am I wrong though?”
Eventually, Maddie gets Molly to admit that she’s not wrong, but is adamant that she wants to see things out with Chase first.
At the park, Maddie and Molly sit on the bench, Maddie taking selfies alongside her friend. However, it’s clear that Maddie’s mind is still on her new neighbor. After exchanging their secret goodbye handshake (which involves the two hip bumping once another). Molly checks her phone, finding that Chase has left her last text unread for about an hour. Meanwhile, Maddie lies on her bed, fantasizing about being with Josh,.
Josh is busy mowing the lawn when he comes across Molly. The two briefly chat for a while, Josh mentioning that he came from a rough city, managing to rise above it. Molly asks Josh if he’d be available tomorrow. She’d love to show him around town. Josh would be up for it, he’ll just check with Laney (Madison Wolfe) first. The two share phone numbers and go their separate ways.
That evening, Maddie is busy preening herself in the mirror, shooting a text to Molly asking if she’s ‘the kind of girl Josh would like’. Meanwhile, as Molly anxiously awaits for Josh to call her back, she finally receives a text from Chase, who apologizes profusely for going silent, saying that he was busy with college papers. Molly is about to respond when Josh calls back.
The next day, Molly sits on the bench, waiting for Josh to arrive when, to her surprise, she comes across Chase. The two express shock over meeting each other in person for the first time before he sits with her. As the two talk, Chase admits that he’s a bit intimidated:
“I didn’t expect you to be—“
“This good-looking upclose?”
“Y-yeah…”
Molly gives insight on her past, currently making ends meet as a model for magazines and photo shoots. It’s there she reveals her nickname, given to her, ‘The Drug’. She claims that she got it because when people spend time with her, it puts them into euphoria.
Eventually, the conversation turns serious. Chase is still trying to figure out what he wants to do with his life. Molly admits that there are still things she’s unsure of and reveals that she once considered going into music but decided against it.
After some cajoling from Chase, Molly reveals her guitar and sings a verse from Elvis Presley. At the end, Chase compliments her singing, saying that he would buy an album from her. It’s at that point Josh finally arrives, introducing himself to Chase, who seems a bit taken aback by his sudden arrival and Molly’s sudden interest in him, but remains cordial.
The three walk across town, taking a glance at all the sights and sounds. Eventually, the trio reach downtown, where they notice a small dance festival going on. When Molly hears that one of her favorite songs is about to play…
Molly steps into the center, dancing very promiscuously, swaying her hips and even revealing a bit of her chest. Josh, finding the song catchy, decides to jump into the dance, awkwardly shuffling about alongside Molly. Feeling that he’s being overshadowed, Chase jumps into the fray by breakdancing, something that ends with Chase falling flat on his face. Chase and Molly look at each other, both stifling back their laughter.
At the end of the night, the group reach Molly’s house where Chase thanks Molly for the evening. Molly’s mind is more focused on Josh, however, as she asks if he’d be willing to go on to a restaurant down the street. Josh is interested, thinking that it could be a ‘double date’ and promises to text him regarding a time and date.
Josh looks at Chase as he watches Molly leave, telling him that he was a pretty good dancer. Chase however is hoping he didn’t blow his chance with Molly. Realizing that he likes her, Josh gives Chase his phone number, telling him to send a text when he can. Once Chase leaves, Josh decides to call Laney to let her know how everything went.
That evening, Molly nervously searches through her phone for Josh’s text…
The next day, Molly lies on the bed, having gotten little sleep when her phone rings…
“Molly, heeeeeeelp!”
…and she receives a panicky Maddie trying to decide what to wear. She wants to know if she should show ass or not.
Molly sighs, telling Maddie that she’s acting irrational. Maddie defends herself, saying that she’s just really interested in Josh. Molly swears they’ve had this talk before. Maddie falls for a guy and gets obsessed. What really causes Maddie to freeze up, however, is when Molly brings up the times that Maddie has drunk dialed guys late into the night.
“...I’ve done that?”
Hearing Maddie’s voice waver, Molly apologizes to Maddie, gently suggesting that she should be a bit more responsible before asking for some advice.
“Is it bad to think about a guy for an entire night?”
Maddie tells Molly that she’s got to be careful. If the guy is all she can think of, then that’s going to do things you’ll regret, only for Molly to abruptly hang up when she receives a text from Josh.
Molly proceeds to write mountains of text in response to Josh asking about a date tomorrow afternoon before breaking into a giggling fit.
Maddie stands by Josh’s house, anxiously waiting for his arrival. When Josh opens the door, Maddie frantically asks him if he wants to go to this lounge that she frequents. Before Josh can say anything, Maddie takes him by the hand and sprints off.
Eventually, the duo arrive at the Stray Cat Lounge. Maddie introduces Josh to the bartenders, chatting away with them and, upon telling them that Josh is new to the neighborhood, getting a few shots on the house.
After taking their free shots, the DJ announces the next song. Ecstatic, Maddie takes Josh by the hand and leads him towards the dance floor. Josh again shuffles about awkwardly while Maddie bounces about. During this time, Maddie asks Josh if he’s doing anything tomorrow. He briefly mentions a double date, causing Maddie to claim she can make it a triple date. Amidst the sea of bodies, Josh finds Elliot standing alone, looking forlorn at the sight of him dancing with Maddie.
Josh excuses himself, going in search for Elliot, eventually finding him by the bar, drowning his sorrows. Josh checks up on Elliot, wanting to see if he’s okay. Bizarrely, Elliot apologizes to Josh, swearing that he wasn’t ’checking out’ his girlfriend. Josh assures Elliot that he and Maddie aren’t dating. As far as he knows, she’s single.
Elliot is relieved, but wishes he had the nerve to talk to her, gushing about how sweet and kind she is.
“Pizza incident notwithstanding.”
Josh sits with Elliot, giving him some advice: Sometimes, you just gotta give it the old college try. You never know what might happen. Elliot thanks Josh, even offering his phone number to him, before rushing off to find Maddie.
Now a few drinks in, Maddie spots a familiar face. Her eyes blurry, Maddie breaks into euphoria when she finds Elliot, nearly tripping over herself. Elliot catches Maddie complimenting her on her wardrobe.
“Thaaaanks! I tried looking my best for Josh, but I think he’s gone.”
Maddie pouts, fretting that her ‘perky ass’ has gone to waste. Elliot offers to dance with her, drawing a mischievous gleam in Maddie’s eyes, asking if he can keep up.
As the strobe lights flicker on and off, Maddie and Elliot dance the night away, Elliot growing bolder with each shot taken. Maddie begins to grind on Elliot, the once shy guy not even phased by the sudden sexual turn.
Josh meanwhile is outside answering texts from a furious Laney. He soon realizes that Elliot and Maddie are still inside and groans, sending an Uber their way before rushing home.
The next day, Maddie groans herself awake, having conjured a hangover. As she ponders the fact that she’s both naked and somehow has Elliot’s underwear, Molly calls her side, asking what she should wear for today. To be more specific, she’s wondering if she should show any cleavage. Maddie’s response?
“Why are you so worried about how much boob you’re showing?”
Molly asks Maddie if she even knows what day this is. Maddie checks her schedule, finding that the date is not only today, but that it’s supposed to begin in half-an-hour. Maddie leaps into action, hanging up on Molly in the process. Maddie rushes through getting dressed, trying to find something presentable to wear. While she does, however, Molly is frantically texting Maddie, asking a serious question:
“ARE YOU SEEING HIM?”
Molly races through the street in her car, anxiously looking at her phone for the time and even passing through a stoplight, something completely out of character for her. As Molly panics, Maddie actually takes her time getting to the restaurant, even as she has a splitting headache.
Eventually, Molly reaches the restaurant, embarking on a search for Josh, only to find that he hasn’t arrived yet. She enters the establishment, a sizable yet comfy eatery, finding their table in the process.
Several minutes pass, and Molly remains a wreck as Maddie enters. As they wait for Josh, the noted change in personalities becomes apparent as Molly frantically asks Maddie if she’s showing enough cleavage, being unable to go a few words without mentioning Josh’s name. Maddie meanwhile chides Molly for speeding through a stop light and even asks if Molly has even talked to Chase.
Maddie asks Molly what’s going on. It's unlike her to be paranoid over a guy. Molly blurts out that she’s just interested in him. Something Maddie once said. Molly again asks the accusing question, this time to Maddie’s face. Maddie is absolutely confused, wanting to focus on the dinner in peace until…
“Oh shit…”
…Maddie admits to Molly that she might have fucked up, confessing to have asked Josh about the double date last night. Molly is incensed, looking about ready to choke Maddie out before at last, Josh arrives at the restaurant, finally revealing Laney to Maddie and Molly.
Laney…the girlfriend.
While Maddie gladly greets Laney as she enters the restaurant, Molly struggles to explain where their dates are before rushing out of the restaurant. Maddie, sensing that something is wrong, goes to follow her.
Maddie finds Molly on top of her car fighting back tears. Molly admits that she feels like an idiot. She got so excited after their night out a couple days ago that she started to think about life with Josh, completely ignoring Chase and accusing Maddie of something she genuinely didn’t know.
Maddie places a hand on Molly’s shoulder, telling her that it’s going to be okay. Molly just had a moment of weakness. Everyone has that.
“We don’t need to be perfect, we just need to be there when it matters most.”
Molly comes to her senses, thanking Maddie for calming her down. Maddie also makes another confession. After last night, she did some thinking, and reveals that she’s going to be more responsible going forward. The first step being to admit the truth to Josh.
Before Maddie can step back in the restaurant however, they both hear Chase and Elliot. Both Molly and Maddie are shocked that they’re here, even more so that they now have each other’s phone numbers. Elliot steps forward first, thanking Maddie for helping him get out of his shell. Chase also admits that he sees Molly as an inspiration, someone he could aspire to be.
The two couples officially form, with Maddie even paying Elliot the money she owed for the pizza. She’s left with one question however. How did they both know about the date?
“About time you figured this out.”
To Maddie’s surprise, Laney and Josh step out. The former looking relatively miffed. She doesn’t know what prompted either woman to chase after her man, but when Josh told her what happened last night, she had to take charge. She lambasts both women for their actions against Josh. Even as Maddie apologizes, Laney tells them that it will be a while before she’ll feel comfortable around them.
“You both have men who love you and will walk through hell for you, stay as far away from my man as remotely possible. Both of you.”
With that, Laney storms off, a sheepish Josh waving at the two women.
Now left without their triple date, the two new couples ponder what to do next:
“I don’t know about you guys, but I kinda feel like getting shitfaced.” Molly admits.
“Fuck that.” Maddie groans. “After what happened last night, I need a comfy day indoors.”
“Hey, I could always order takeout.” Chase suggests.
“Yeah, and I can always pick up a few games from my house.” Elliot adds, even asking if they like Super Smash Bros.
As Maddie geeks out over Super Smash Bros with Elliot, Molly and Chase reflect on the situation and agree that there could be some beautiful relationships blossoming, Chase stealing a kiss from Molly as confirmation.
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