Mark Wahlberg Caught Up in World Cup Scandal in Action Comedy "Balls Up"

Liputan6.com, Jakarta - Hollywood actor Mark Wahlberg return to his latest action comedy, "Balls Up," scheduled for a global release on Prime Video on April 15, 2026.

The film is directed by Peter Farrelly, known for his iconic comedies, and written by Rhett Reese and Paul Wernick.

"Balls Up" promises to be a spectacle full of chaos and laughter, telling the story of two marketing executives who find themselves in deep trouble amidst the excitement of the World Cup.

The film will follow the adventures of Brad (Mark Wahlberg) and Elijah (Paul Walter Hauser), two condom company executives whose sponsorship ideas lead to their dismissal.

However, fate brings them to Brazil for the World Cup final, where their drunken party inadvertently sparks an international scandal.

This incident turns them into fugitives across Brazil, pursued by angry fans, criminals, and corrupt officials, as they fight to save their careers and lives.

"Balls Up" begins with the bold idea of ​​Brad (Mark Wahlberg) and Elijah (Paul Walter Hauser), two marketing executives at a condom company.

They propose a full-coverage condom sponsorship for the World Cup, an idea they consider revolutionary.

Although their presentation is a huge success, their subsequent drunken celebrations lead to their dismissal for squandering a client's sponsorship opportunity.

However, the free VIP tickets they obtained during the negotiations take them to the World Cup final in Brazil.

There, their reckless partying sparks an unexpected global scandal.

They are inadvertently responsible for Brazil's failure to score a last-minute equalizer against Argentina.

As a result of the incident, Brad and Elijah find themselves public enemy number one in Brazil.

They must face the wrath of football fans, the pursuit of local criminals, and the machinations of power-hungry officials.

"Balls Up" features a stellar cast of actors bringing to life unique characters in this action-comedy.

Mark Wahlberg leads the cast as Brad Lewison, an overconfident marketer whose idea for a full-body World Cup condom backfires spectacularly.

Paul Walter Hauser plays Elijah, Brad's goofy co-worker and the product designer behind the revolutionary condom that covers the testicles.

Sacha Baron Cohen also stars as Pavio Curto, a drug cartel leader who turns Brad and Elijah's escape from Brazil into a nightmare.

Benjamin Bratt plays Senhor Santos, the head of the tourism ministry whom they must please to close sponsorship deals.

Daniela Melchior stars as Antonia/Isabella Costa, a local resident who unexpectedly gets involved in the chaos created by Brad and Elijah.

Also, Molly Shannon plays Burgess, an uptight corporate foil who makes matters worse for the men.

Eva De Dominici as Emilia, Eric André as Eco Warrior Aaron, Chelsey Crisp as Eco Warrior Julie, and Luciano Szafir as Cristos round out the cast, promising a rich comedic dynamic.

Although "Balls Up" is still in its early stages of release, early reviews have described the film as a raunchy and over-the-top R-rated comedy.

This genre is indeed a hallmark of director Peter Farrelly, who often presents bold and unconventional humor in his work.

High expectations were pinned on the film given the involvement of Peter Farrelly and screenwriters Rhett Reese and Paul Wernick, who have strong reputations in the comedy genre.

However, some early critics have suggested that the film may rely too heavily on penis jokes and lazy stereotypes, which could detract from the quality of the humor.

On the other hand, some argue that "Balls Up" successfully channeled the childlike charm of Farrelly's classic '90s works, which might appeal to his loyal fans.