The Other Guys (2010)

Fresh and Exciting

Fun premise, good actors, bad writing. This film seemed to have potential at the beginning but it quickly devolves into a trite action film. Ultimately it's very boring.

Tells a fascinating and unsettling true story, and does so well, without pretending to have all the answers.

It’s not bad or unwatchable but despite the amplitude of the spectacle, the end result is underwhelming.

Mark Wahlberg has proved he has another another revelation. He plays comedy really well, by playing serious, in the seriously, entertaining and different comedy romp, which has a beautiful, approved blend of humor and seriousness. They're are some absolutely hysteric moments here, as our wanna be serious, pen pushing cops, see an opportunity when two of their top collegues, bizarrely suicide. Facing constant taunts and humiliation, from two cops, our lovable buddy pair (Wahlberg and Ferrell, who work so comically well together) get out there, and make it happen, by solving the latest crime, involving your not so ordinary criminal. I felt Michael Keaton as their captain, was wasted here, but his presence was felt. You typically see the inter related stars, of comedy and hard action, cross paths here, and what The Other Guys has going for it, is that's a refreshing new comedy action movie, that should be high on people's radar. Eva Mendez as Ferrel's wife, has never looked hotter where poor soul Wahlberg, (a natural ballerina too) is querulous, to how he keeps getting the hotties.

The Columbia folks must have thought the pairing of Will Farrell and Mark Wahlberg would be a good match for a comedy. But it certainly doesn't work in this film. The comedy in "The Other Guys" is thin at best. That weakness probably has to be chalked up mostly to the writers, for the script seems strained at times. The actors are hesitant in their dialog in places. It all smacks of a combination of a poor script, weak directing, and a plot that just doesn't register. The early scenes with Dwayne Johnson and Samuel Jackson as Danson and Highsmith are even less funny. It's obviously supposed to be a spoof of fast action cop movies. While that's quite clear, it's also clearly a weak and seemingly cheap effort to launch this movie. The only character of some interest is Captain Gene Mauch, played very well by Michael Keaton. Ferrell is just fair but Wahlberg and the rest strike me as the type that filled the B movies of the past. This film shows what Hollywood seems to have evolved into in much of its output so far in the 21st century. It seems obsessed with sex, and this film itself seems a fetish. Especially the scenes in which Ferrell's Allen Gamble and Eva Mendes as Dr. Sheila Gamble, pass descriptive sexual encounter desires to one another through her mother. That seemed to me to be just plain stupid. This is a film any thinking person will want to skip. Those who enjoy good comedies would soon be bored and then rightly miffed at spending any money for this flat piece.

As this police comedy opens we see a pair of super-cops involved in a spectacular, and destructive, car chase to take down some criminals. When the chase is over they are fêted like rock stars… these men don't do paperwork; that is left to the likes of Detectives Allen Gamble and Terry Hoitz… the other guys. These two seldom leave the office as Gamble is a risk averse forensic accountant and Hoitz is less than popular following an incident where he shot a star basketball player. After the two star cops die the rest of the squad are keen to take on their mantle and Hoitz insists that they go out for once. While out Mantle arrests businessman Sir David Ershon… for breaking scaffolding regulations! They don't realise that he is involved with some shady characters who kidnap him on the way to the police station. It soon becomes apparent that Ershon has powerful friends and dangerous enemies; Mantle and Hoitz will have to up their game if they are to solve the case.When I sat down to watch this I hoped it might be mildly amusing but soon found it much better than that as laugh out loud moments came thick and fast. I like how the film introduced us to the two super-cops, played by Samuel L. Jackson and Dwayne Johnson, before the actual stars of the film. The way these two operated then died was delightfully over the top. Will Ferrell and Mark Wahlberg are impressive in these lead roles; their characters are funny as is their constant bickering. Steve Coogan provides more laughs as Ershon and Ray Stevenson is suitably threatening as bad guy Roger Wesley; a role he plays straight rather than for laughs. The story isn't particularly strong but that doesn't matter as it serves to put the characters in various situations that provide the laughs. There are plenty of funny moments as well as some running gags. The best of these running gags was Hoitz's constant bafflement that Gamble keeps attracting beautiful women, including his 'plain' wife. The action is over the top in a way that suits the film. Overall I'd certainly recommend this to anybody wanting a good laugh and enjoys cop films.

I wanted to laugh, so I tried the Other Guys. It's a typical Will Ferrel-type comedy. Two cops who are desk jockeys get thrust into a real case that puts them out on the street in a real case.Mark Wahlberg is OK as the partner, playing the straight man. Ferrell is a dork, married to a beautiful Eva Mendes who is a doctor. And all the beautiful women keep hitting on Ferrell. A typical ploy in these movies, reversing what you'd expect.Stupid story, lot of physical humor. If you like Ferrell, you will like this. Wahlberg is OK. The Rock and Samuel L Jackson also play some funny roles for a bit. But overall, you get what pretty much what you expect in this b-grade type comedy.The Other Guys - nothing great, but I have seen worse. Enjoy.