August 6, 2010 The Other Guys
Studio: Columbia Pictures Rating: PG-13 for crude and sexual content, language, violence and some drug material.
Will Ferrell and director Adam McKay have a long and successful history together.
"Anchorman: The Legend Of Ron Burgundy," "Talledega Nights: The Ballad Of Ricky Bobby" and "Step Brothers" all delivered plenty of laughs.
The duo is at it again with "The Other Guys."
Ferrell stars as Allen Gamble. He's a New York City police officer who is content with his role on the force. He's a number cruncher, not a bad guy chaser. However, his partner Terry Hoitz (Mark Wahlberg) has bigger dreams.
Terry is craving action. He wants to the same success and glory as the department's hero cops, Highsmith (Samuel L. Jackson) and Danson (Dwayne Johnson).
Through a bizarre twist of fate, Allen and Terry finally get their chance to crack a case. It involves an investment banker (Steve Coogan) who may have stolen billions of dollars. But after making an arrest they run into some problems.
The two hapless cops spend the rest of the movie trying to save their jobs and reputations, while trying to stop a big con game.
But the main reasons I enjoyed "The Other Guys" is its off-kilter story and a more nuanced performance by Ferrell.
He's been much too over the top in his last few roles, including a disappointing turn in "Land Of The Lost." Here, Ferrell is actually subdued, at least in the beginning. He picks his spots before delivering one of his trademark manic outbursts.
Wahlberg, who has made a career with action roles, acquits himself very well doing comedy. His style is so different from Ferrell's that it gives the film a different vibe than most of the recent "buddy cop movies" we've seen.
Michael Keaton has a nice turn as Allen and Terry's boss, and Eva Mendes is a funny and sexy surprise playing Allen's beautiful wife. Terry finds it hard to believe that anyone as gorgeous as her would have anything to do with someone like Allen.
Although McKay's specialty is comedy, the action sequences look like they're right out of the "movie handbook." However, it is the laughs that keep "The Other Guys" going.
This isn't a perfect movie. There are times when Ferrell's antics go on a little long and some judicious editing would have been helpful.
But overall, it's a winner. And I really like the way the the laughs come from all angles. They originate from situations and places you really aren't expecting. The bizarre and off-kilter nature of the story is what makes it so good. "The Other Guys" has its own unique rhythm which is very entertaining.
On my rating scale, "The Other Guys" earns a TRIPLE.
PRIME PICKS BONES Tonight at 8:00 PM The Tiger in the Tale
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August 6, 2010
