The Wrong Missy

Released in May 2020, The Wrong Missy landed on Netflix at a moment when the world was stuck at home, hungry for mindless comedy. It delivered exactly that: a loud, crude, and surprisingly energetic Happy Madison production built around a classic mistaken-identity setup. David Spade plays Tim, a nervous financial executive who accidentally invites the wrong woman to his company's Hawaiian retreat. That woman is Missy, played by Lauren Lapkus with a manic glee that threatens to tear the movie apart in the best way.

The film was directed by Tyler Spindel in his feature debut, working from a script by Kevin Barnett and Chris Pappas. Shot in just 35 days at the Turtle Bay Resort on Oahu's North Shore, it's a lean production that doesn't waste time on subtlety. The cast is stuffed with familiar faces from the Adam Sandler universe: Nick Swardson, Rob Schneider, Jackie Sandler, and even WWE star Roman Reigns. Vanilla Ice shows up too, performing Ice Ice Baby at the resort bar.

Critics were not kind. The film holds a 32% Tomatometer score on Rotten Tomatoes and a 39 on Metacritic, with most reviews praising Lapkus's fearless performance while lamenting the tired gags and mean-spirited tone. But audiences, especially those who enjoy Happy Madison's brand of raunch, gave it a warmer reception. Netflix reported over 30 million household views in its first four weeks, making it a genuine streaming hit during the early pandemic era.[edit]

Tim Morris is a mild-mannered financial executive in New York City, recently divorced and struggling to navigate the dating world. After a string of awkward blind dates set up by his friends, he turns to a dating app and matches with two women on the same day. One is Melissa, a kind and beautiful woman who shares his love for quiet evenings. The other is Missy, an eccentric whirlwind who takes him on a disastrous first date involving raw fish, an aggressive pet parrot, and a taser incident. Tim is horrified and wants nothing to do with her.

Meanwhile, his boss Jack Winstone announces a company retreat at a luxury resort in Hawaii, insisting that everyone bring a romantic partner. Tim, excited about his budding connection with Melissa, invites her. But in a moment of panic while texting, he accidentally sends the invitation to Missy instead. He arrives at the Honolulu airport expecting Melissa, only to find Missy beaming at him, thrilled to be there and completely unaware she wasn't meant to be.

The weekend becomes a desperate damage-control mission for Tim. He tries to keep Missy away from his boss and colleagues, terrified her outrageous behavior will cost him a promotion. Missy, however, is utterly unselfconscious and embraces every opportunity for adventure. She challenges a corporate rival to a chugging contest, performs a bizarre interpretive dance at the talent show, and nearly causes a shark attack during a company boat outing. Tim's best friend Nate watches with amusement, while his ex-girlfriend Jess observes with concern.

As the chaos escalates, Tim finds himself caught between his professional ambitions and a growing realization that Missy, despite her overwhelming personality, has a genuine heart. She's loyal, adventurous, and accepts him without judgment. But he's too focused on appearances to see it, and his attempts to control the situation only make things worse. The retreat builds toward a breaking point where Tim must choose between salvaging his corporate image and embracing the chaos Missy has brought into his life.[edit]