REVIEW: The Other Guys

THE OTHER GUYS
Starring: Will Ferrell, Mark Wahlberg, Michael Keaton, Eva Mendes
Director: Adam McKay

Do you like the comedy of Will Ferrell?

Yes? Please continue reading.

No? you better go do one.

I have always found Will Ferrell to be a comedy god. I find him amusing just to look at. He makes me want to laugh. If I ever hung out with him in real life I do not think I would be able to handle it. I have never really been disappointed by any of his movies except the remake of Bewitched which was very lame.

Anyone familiar with Will and director Adam McKay’s other collaboration can be assured of what they are in for as soon as they enter the cinema. However be warned that Will’s character in this film is more measured and less of a sociopath as some of his other comic creations, but do not worry he still manages to lose it on a number of occasions.

Essentially this is a buddy-buddy movie with the simple twist that Will Ferrell and his partner played by Mark Wahlberg are literally the worst cops, incompetent and useless, the laughing stock of their department. It was nice to see Mark Wahlberg in something approaching a decent film after his recent crimes against human by lending his acting talents to the hilariously bad The Happening. The scene when he apologies to the plant for going into a house is outstanding. If I recall his was also atrocious in the Plant of the Apes “reimaging” where he only seemed to say “Yeah, come on!” and “Hey, let’s go!”. On the flip side he can be very good, everyone likes him in Boogie Nights, but he was awesome in I heart the Huckabees.

Support from Michael Keaton as “Captain Gene”, was genesis and he must have been glad to have been rescued from the B-movie hell he had become trapped in. He is always funny as he effortlessly presents an air of confusion which looks as though he is not really sure of who he is, what he is doing or what the purpose of life is. Steve Coogan does his confused English man routine and Eva Mendes seems to only be in it to act as a punch line for a joke involving Will Ferrell’s character and his effect on women.

The villain of the piece is meant to be an Australian but actually talks in a South African accent. At least they got the hemisphere correct. Fire the casting director!

Overall this is a fine caper with plenty of gags. Top of the list is the ongoing one about a wooden gun, TLC song references and Will Ferrell’s alter ego "Gator", who only refers to himself in the third person and comes out with gems like: ”Gator can’t take this shit!” The only issue is that he is not in it enough! You feel me!

This is no Anchorman, or Talladega Nights or Step Brothers but I guarantee 60% of the time you will be laughing all the time.

WORDS: Nervoso72826