Movie Review #43 (The Other Guys)

The Other Guys (2010) Will Ferrell, Marky Mark Wahlberg Directed by Adam McKay

Adam McKay knows who breads his butter, that’s Will Ferrell…ever since 2004’s Anchorman (which was great) he and Will have teamed up for a comedy every other year like clockwork. This year it’s The Other Guys which like Talladega Nights is chock full of laugh out loud moments…but the story at times doesn’t make sense. The film plays a bit too much like a collection of funny bits, that they decided to throw together in a loose and lazy plot. That said it is funny and if your paying the ticket price for this film…my guess is that’s all you expect.

The Other Guys is the story of two paper pushing cops that are tired of sitting at a desk and long for the glory that the other bad-a*# cops that reside in their precinct have (the funny Samuel L. Jackson and Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson). After a tragic accident that leaves two cops dead, Officers Gamble (played hilariously by Will Ferrell) and Hoitz (played oddly by the often bad Marky Mark Wahlberg) get their chance to shine. It is of no use explaining the plot to you with this film, it really is just a vessel for funny antics (and some not so funny ones as well). I will say that the movie is chock full of guest stars and non are more funny than Michael Keaton who is Police Captain Gene Mauch who moonlights as the night manager of Bed Bath and Beyond (Hilarious!). Eva Mendes is also quite funny as Gamble’s wife. The Good Guys will not be as memorable as Anchorman was, and it’s not quite as funny as Stepbrothers, but it is funny enough and it will make money. Though it is random and at times nonsensical I still recommend it (especially to Red Sox fans who want to see Derek Jeter accidentally shot).

(The Shawshank Scale 1-10) In one scene Michael Keaton reads off a briefing check list intended for his police officers to his night Bed Bath & Beyond crew…brilliant! Funny but not classic like Anchorman was…A very serviceable 6.0 on The Scale.

Food For Thought: Marky Mark has had some really bad performances (Planet of the Apes and Shooter) but he does do well in those roles he seems suited for (Three Kings and The Departed) and luckily his next one seems well tailored to him, The Fighter coming out later this year is the story of Wahlberg’s real life friend Mickey Ward and it looks very promising (as a random side note I was just by Marky Marks old house in Dorchester as I was visiting my grandma who lives right down the street…still looks the same). For Will Ferrell there is Megamind which also comes out later this year and pits him against an animated Brad Pitt as Metro Man..could be good.