The Other Guys – 4*
It starts in school. If you’re not one of the popular guys, you long to be. Become one of them, and it’s tough staying at the top. Saturday Night Live writer Adam McKay’s gargantuan giggle fest of deadpan lunatic proportions, The Other Guys, takes this concept and places it bang-slap in cop territory, where the opportunity to feel alienated is rich comedy pickings for writers. And he doesn’t disappoint.
The Other Guys stars SNL colleague Will Ferrell and film action-man Mark Wahlberg in the leads as hapless, mismatched cops Gamble and Hoitz – the former happy to push paper for all eternity, but the latter wanting the action-packed glory and danger of the star cops on the force, Highsmith (Samuel L. Jackson) and Danson (Dwayne Johnson). Ferrell is normally an acquired taste, whilst Wahlberg appears to be shedding his tough guy roles more frequently (Date Night, for example). But Ferrell paired with Wahlberg is nothing short of comedy genius that shows off the talents of both in the best possible light.
Ferrell plays down his trademark idiocy, unleashing it in parts, but taking on more controlled and serious traits as Gamble. Wahlberg thrillingly sends up his stereotypical film persona (angst-ridden and pumped) as Hoitz to the point where both actors seem to be having a blast doing so and experimenting along the way. Thankfully, their chemistry and timing is such that we never tire of watching their team antics and the consequences, which is a good sign that this casting works.
There is also a deliciously funny ensemble of supporting cast members that simply add to the film’s overall strength. Without giving spoilers away, once Jackson and Johnson exit, having provided ample laughs in hammed up, inflated roles, it’s down to Michael Keaton as tricky Captain Gene Mauch to take up the baton, injecting Mauch with all the unpredictability and quiet insanity we come to expect with a Keaton performance, except – as with Ferrell – all the standard ingredients are there, but they are mixed up a little to deliver a character not so routine as first thought, which keeps all on their toes. There is a masterful joke throughout to do with all-girl group TLC that needs to be experienced to appreciate how hilarious it is, every time Mauch is on screen. Rather than becoming tedious, it actually gets funnier as the film goes on.
Eva Mendes is Gamble’s intelligent and drop-dead gorgeous wife, Dr Sheila Gamble, who oozes sex appeal, but is unaware of her impact on the opposite sex. Mendes reverts back to her The Women character for understated slapstick value, and seems as comfortable playing comedy as Mrs G, as any other role, having fun torturing Hoitz whose tongue she virtually trips over whe he comes around for dinner. The weaker link in the line-up is Steve Coogan whose corrupt entrepreneurial character David Ershon never really finds his true value and doesn’t quite make the grade as a camp ‘baddie’ of sorts. That’s not to say he isn’t amusing, just not as witty as first hoped for.
Whilst a comedy cannot be a laugh a minute, the downside of The Other Guys is it has a couple of flat moments, where the gag falls flat or it’s dragged out too long. One prime example is when we first meet Hoitz’s love interest, innocently taking a ballet lesson with a male, which Hoitz misinterprets as more, accompanied by imbecile jeers from Gamble at the door. That said it could be argued that these bizarre scenes merely have you scratching your head even more at the farce before you, and wondering whether among the divine subtlety you are actually missing something quite innovative in deadpan delivery? Perhaps not…
Nevertheless, The Other Guys is a hoot a minute and well worth a trip to the cinema for overall entertainment value and a great cast. Both Ferrell and Wahlberg can safely preen like a couple of peacocks after this.
4/5 stars
By L G-K
