David Spade
Tim Morris
Overview
A guy meets the woman of his dreams and invites her to his company's corporate retreat, but realizes he sent the invite to the wrong person.
Cast
12 people
Reviews
5 min readThe Wrong Missy, or the Art of Not Laughing at Your Own Joke
I’ll admit it: I went into The Wrong Missy expecting to hate it. Not because I have some highbrow disdain for Adam Sandler’s brand of comedy—I’ve laughed at enough Happy Gilmore reruns to know better—but because the premise sounded like the kind of lazy, algorithm-friendly sludge that Netflix pumps out to keep us scrolling. A guy accidentally texts the wrong woman to join him on a corporate retreat, and hilarity ensues?
It’s the kind of setup that could’ve been scribbled on a napkin during a three-martini lunch in 1998. And yet, somewhere in the middle of this 90-minute exercise in cringe and slapstick, I found myself doing something unexpected: I was laughing. Not at the jokes, exactly—most of them land with the grace of a whoopee cushion in a library—but at Lauren Lapkus.
There’s something almost heroic about the way Lapkus commits to this role. Missy isn’t just a manic pixie dream girl gone rogue; she’s a force of nature, a human tornado of bad decisions and unfiltered id. In one scene, she hijacks a jet ski to chase down David Spade’s Tim, her face contorted into a rictus of determination, as if she’s not just trying to catch up to him but to outrun the very concept of shame.
Lapkus doesn’t just play the part—she inhabits it, throwing herself into every gag with the kind of reckless abandon that makes you wonder if she’s secretly a stunt performer moonlighting as an actress. The critics were right to single her out. Variety’s Owen Gleiberman called her performance “a grenade of happy insanity tossed into the middle of every scene,” and that’s not hyperbole.
She’s the only reason this film doesn’t collapse under the weight of its own laziness.
Because lazy is the word that keeps coming to mind. Not in the sense that the filmmakers didn’t try—there’s a certain technical competence to the editing and pacing—but in the way it recycles every tired trope of the Sandlerverse without adding anything new. The vacation resort setting?
Audience Opinions
Audience 4.7/10
"A raucous but uneven comedy that thrives on absurdity and cringe humor, though it often struggles to sustain laughs beyond its best gags."
The film’s over-the-top premise and chaotic energy generate sporadic amusement, particularly in scenes where Lauren Lapkus’s unhinged performance steals the show. However, the humor feels repetitive and thinly stretched, with many jokes falling flat or relying too heavily on shock value rather than clever writing. latestnetflix.com's read is that David Spade’s familiar schtick and the lack of depth in supporting characters leave the comedy feeling one-note despite its high-energy approach.
What viewers praise
- Lauren Lapkus shines Lapkus’s unhinged and unpredictable performance is the standout, delivering the film’s most memorable and genuinely funny moments.
- Absurd humor works The film’s willingness to embrace cringe and absurdity pays off in its best scenes, offering a distinct comedic tone that sets it apart from more conventional rom-coms.
- Fast-paced energy The movie’s brisk runtime and relentless pacing keep it watchable, even when individual jokes don’t land.
Common complaints
- Repetitive jokes The humor often relies on the same shock-value gags, leading to diminishing returns as the film progresses.
- Thin character development Supporting characters, including David Spade’s lead, lack depth and feel like caricatures rather than fully realized roles.
- Uneven comedic timing Many jokes fall flat or feel forced, making the film’s humor inconsistent and reliant on a few standout moments.
- Predictable plot The story follows a familiar and formulaic rom-com structure, offering little in the way of surprises or originality.
Recommended for
Fans of cringe comedy Lauren Lapkus enthusiasts David Spade comedy lovers Lightweight Netflix binge seekers Absurd humor fans
Full Plot (Spoilers)
Spoiler warning
This section contains the full plot, including major story reveals. Overview above stays spoiler-free.
Buzz & Rumors
Public reportsDavid Spade’s Awkward Rom-Com Mishap: The Making of The Wrong Missy
Netflix’s The Wrong Missy (2020) is a comedy built on a simple, cringe-worthy premise: a man accidentally invites the wrong woman on a tropical getaway—only to realize his mistake when it’s far too late. Starring David Spade as the hapless Tim Morris and Lauren Lapkus as the chaotic Missy, the film leans into slapstick, awkward humor, and a cast of familiar faces from the Happy Madison Productions universe. latestnetflix.com's read is that but behind the scenes, the movie’s production had its own share of chaos, quirks, and a few surprises.
A Happy Madison Reunion with a Twist
The Wrong Missy marks another collaboration between David Spade and Happy Madison, the production company founded by Adam Sandler, known for churning out raunchy comedies. Director Tyler Spindel, a frequent Happy Madison collaborator, helmed the project, bringing his signature style of fast-paced, joke-heavy filmmaking 
. Spindel’s background in comedy—including work on The Package (2018) and Father of the Year (2019)—made him a natural fit for the film’s tone, which blends physical humor with Spade’s trademark sarcasm.
The cast is packed with Happy Madison regulars, including Nick Swardson, Rob Schneider, and Jackie Sandler (Adam’s wife), alongside newcomers like Lauren Lapkus, who brought her improvisational chops from Orange Is the New Black . The chemistry between Spade and Lapkus became a focal point, with their contrasting personalities—Spade’s deadpan cynicism vs. Lapkus’s unhinged energy—driving much of the film’s humor.
The "Wrong Missy" Problem: A Casting Gamble
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xbCzASiRnWc
The film’s central gag—Tim accidentally texting the wrong woman—wasn’t just a plot device; it reportedly influenced the casting process. Lauren Lapkus was brought on to play the titular "wrong" Missy, a role that required her to embody a character who is equal parts endearing and disastrous. In interviews, Spade hinted at the challenges of working with Lapkus’s improvisational style, which clashed (in a good way) with his more scripted delivery .
One behind-the-scenes tidbit suggests that Lapkus’s performance was so unpredictable that some scenes required multiple takes to nail the right balance of chaos. While the evidence doesn’t confirm whether this led to on-set tension, it’s clear that her portrayal of Missy—described in one review as "a human tornado of bad decisions"—was a key selling point .
Netflix’s Gamble on Raunchy Comedy
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J47UNra0Zyc
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Cwaneq2w-4
The Wrong Missy arrived on Netflix in May 2020, a time when the streaming giant was doubling down on original comedies to keep audiences entertained during lockdowns. The film’s trailer, which racked up millions of views, promised a mix of slapstick, awkward romance, and Spade’s signature one-liners . Reviews were mixed, with some critics calling it "predictable but fun" and others dismissing it as "low-effort Happy Madison fare" .
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qc3BtI3UVw0
Audience reactions were similarly divided. While the film earned a modest 4.7/10 on SensCritique, it found a loyal following among fans of Spade’s brand of humor . One YouTube review described it as "a guilty pleasure," noting that the chemistry between Spade and Lapkus saved an otherwise formulaic plot .
Unconfirmed Rumors and What’s Next
Despite the film’s lukewarm reception, rumors swirled about a potential sequel, though nothing has been officially confirmed. Spade has joked in interviews about the possibility of The Wrong Missy 2, but given the film’s mixed reviews, it’s unclear whether Netflix will greenlight another installment .
One unverified claim suggests that the film’s budget was relatively low, allowing Netflix to take a risk on a raunchy, star-driven comedy. However, without concrete numbers, this remains speculation.
The Verdict: A Flawed but Fun Ride
The Wrong Missy may not be a critical darling, but it delivers exactly what it promises: 90 minutes of chaotic, often cringe-worthy comedy. For fans of David Spade’s brand of humor—or anyone who’s ever sent a text to the wrong person—it’s an easy watch. Whether it’s a one-off or the start of a franchise remains to be seen, but for now, it’s a solid addition to Netflix’s comedy lineup.
Entertainment rumors and trivia aggregated from public reporting. Treat speculation as unverified unless a cited source confirms it.