Sure, Marky Mark has done well. But whatever happened to the Funky Bunch?
The Other Guys
starring Will Ferrell, Mark Wahlberg, Samuel L. Jackson, Dwayne Johnson, Rob Riggle, Michael Keaton, Steve Coogan, Ray Stevenson, Eva Mendes
directed by Adam McKay
It’s actually surprising that no one thought to act on this sooner; Will Ferrell in a buddy cop movie? Excellent idea. Have over serious and over confident Marky Mark Wahlberg play his partner? Even better. And sure, though its no surprise that Adam McKay is involved, the director of Step Brothers, Talladega Nights, and Anchorman isperfectly capable of bringing the funny. Consider me sold, and consider me stoked.
The New York Police Department is not the easiest cop gig on the planet; but Detectives Highsmith (Jackson) and Danson (Johnson) make it look like a cake walk. While they race through the city causing thousands of dollars in property damage from gun fights, explosions, and car chases, its the other guys back at the office who end up doing the paper work. Other guys like Allen Gamble (Ferrell) and Terry Hoitz (Wahlberg). Allen is freshly promoted from the accounting department, and Terry is being ostracized for accidentally shooting Derek Jeter and costing the city the World Series. However, when the top cops are taken out of the picture, its up to these mismatched underdogs to step up. Capitalist David Ershon (Coogan) has several infractions for scaffolding violations. But upon deeper investigation, it because clear that Ershon is covering up a big money scam for some very important people. Can Allen and Terry put aside their differences and over come their inferiority complexes and solve the case? Probably not, but it’ll be fun to watch them try.
If Adam McKay has proved anything about himself, its this; it does not matter what the content of the movie is, he can manage to make people laugh with the end result. McKay has an uncanny ability to take some what demented and self absorbed people, particularly with his muse Will Ferrell, and make an instant comedy classic. His flicks are never about the actual story; its more about watching perfectly developed idiots make their haphazard way to some sort of delusional catharsis. In some aspects, McKay is the blue collar man’s Coen Brothers. On top of all of that, it turns out the man can actually direct an action flick, too. From the adrenaline pumped, almost impressive opening to the typical cop stereotypes throughout, McKay manages to keep pace with most action film directors. Excepting that he goes one step further and makes you laugh.
A few of my favorite parts: Terry Hoitz’s constant catch phrase “I’m a peacock, you’ve gotta let me fly!” even though we know peacocks don’t fly; Allen Gamble’s constant denial that he has a hot wife in Eva Mendes’s Sheila Gamble; Allen’s first desk pop, which results in the replacement of his firearm with a wooden fun; Terry’s constant obsession with Terry’s wife, not to mention Marky Mark doing ballet. But none of that tops the way that Detectives Highsmith and Danson exit the picture. I won’t ruin it for you, but I’ll say this: all the way down to the song choice of the Foo Fighters “My Hero,” it is the most perfectly hilarious moment in the entire show. Simply, bravo.
The entire cast of The Other Guys have a great chemistry on screen, which usually means they a blast working on the film. Will Ferrell keys in to the quirks of Allen Gamble like a pro and keeps the comedy going throughout. Mark Wahlberg’s performances in his last few film have seemed a bit self important and overly serious. His role as Terry Hoitz fits him comfortably and he looks relaxed; he actually looks like he had a bit of fun. Samuel L. Jackson does a perfect caricatureof himself and Dwayne Johnson does what Dwayne Johnson does best. He plays the Rock. Rob Riggle, Eva Mendes, and Steve Coogan all play their bit parts quite well, and as I said before, looks like they had a blast. The real winner here is the surprise casting of Michael Keaton as Captain Gene Mauch. He has a second job at Bed, Bath, and Beyond, and frequently quotes TLC song lyrics without knowing it. Its an oddly off center role for Keaton, and it actually reminds me of his funnier days in Beetle Juice.
Is The Other Guys the comedy of the summer? Sure, in the especially lack luster summer we’ve had so far, I can say without a doubt it is easily the funniest movie of this year’s blockbusters. Unfortunately, it does fall short of making a permanent imprint on the industry. Everyone recognizes the names Ron Burgundy and Ricky Bobby; no one is going to be able to recall Allen Gamble and Terry Hoitz. The Other Guys is very funny and will end up becoming a huge hit for Ferrell and McKay, but it just doesn’t have any kind of sustainability. Spend your money on it in theaters? Yes. Buy the DVD? Eh, that’s up to you.
Buddy Cop Flick FTW!
Sure, Marky Mark has done well. But whatever happened to the Funky Bunch?
The Other Guys
starring Will Ferrell, Mark Wahlberg, Samuel L. Jackson, Dwayne Johnson, Rob Riggle, Michael Keaton, Steve Coogan, Ray Stevenson, Eva Mendes
directed by Adam McKay
It’s actually surprising that no one thought to act on this sooner; Will Ferrell in a buddy cop movie? Excellent idea. Have over serious and over confident Marky Mark Wahlberg play his partner? Even better. And sure, though its no surprise that Adam McKay is involved, the director of Step Brothers, Talladega Nights, and Anchorman is perfectly capable of bringing the funny. Consider me sold, and consider me stoked.
The New York Police Department is not the easiest cop gig on the planet; but Detectives Highsmith (Jackson) and Danson (Johnson) make it look like a cake walk. While they race through the city causing thousands of dollars in property damage from gun fights, explosions, and car chases, its the other guys back at the office who end up doing the paper work. Other guys like Allen Gamble (Ferrell) and Terry Hoitz (Wahlberg). Allen is freshly promoted from the accounting department, and Terry is being ostracized for accidentally shooting Derek Jeter and costing the city the World Series. However, when the top cops are taken out of the picture, its up to these mismatched underdogs to step up. Capitalist David Ershon (Coogan) has several infractions for scaffolding violations. But upon deeper investigation, it because clear that Ershon is covering up a big money scam for some very important people. Can Allen and Terry put aside their differences and over come their inferiority complexes and solve the case? Probably not, but it’ll be fun to watch them try.
If Adam McKay has proved anything about himself, its this; it does not matter what the content of the movie is, he can manage to make people laugh with the end result. McKay has an uncanny ability to take some what demented and self absorbed people, particularly with his muse Will Ferrell, and make an instant comedy classic. His flicks are never about the actual story; its more about watching perfectly developed idiots make their haphazard way to some sort of delusional catharsis. In some aspects, McKay is the blue collar man’s Coen Brothers. On top of all of that, it turns out the man can actually direct an action flick, too. From the adrenaline pumped, almost impressive opening to the typical cop stereotypes throughout, McKay manages to keep pace with most action film directors. Excepting that he goes one step further and makes you laugh.
A few of my favorite parts: Terry Hoitz’s constant catch phrase “I’m a peacock, you’ve gotta let me fly!” even though we know peacocks don’t fly; Allen Gamble’s constant denial that he has a hot wife in Eva Mendes’s Sheila Gamble; Allen’s first desk pop, which results in the replacement of his firearm with a wooden fun; Terry’s constant obsession with Terry’s wife, not to mention Marky Mark doing ballet. But none of that tops the way that Detectives Highsmith and Danson exit the picture. I won’t ruin it for you, but I’ll say this: all the way down to the song choice of the Foo Fighters “My Hero,” it is the most perfectly hilarious moment in the entire show. Simply, bravo.
The entire cast of The Other Guys have a great chemistry on screen, which usually means they a blast working on the film. Will Ferrell keys in to the quirks of Allen Gamble like a pro and keeps the comedy going throughout. Mark Wahlberg’s performances in his last few film have seemed a bit self important and overly serious. His role as Terry Hoitz fits him comfortably and he looks relaxed; he actually looks like he had a bit of fun. Samuel L. Jackson does a perfect caricatureof himself and Dwayne Johnson does what Dwayne Johnson does best. He plays the Rock. Rob Riggle, Eva Mendes, and Steve Coogan all play their bit parts quite well, and as I said before, looks like they had a blast. The real winner here is the surprise casting of Michael Keaton as Captain Gene Mauch. He has a second job at Bed, Bath, and Beyond, and frequently quotes TLC song lyrics without knowing it. Its an oddly off center role for Keaton, and it actually reminds me of his funnier days in Beetle Juice.
Is The Other Guys the comedy of the summer? Sure, in the especially lack luster summer we’ve had so far, I can say without a doubt it is easily the funniest movie of this year’s blockbusters. Unfortunately, it does fall short of making a permanent imprint on the industry. Everyone recognizes the names Ron Burgundy and Ricky Bobby; no one is going to be able to recall Allen Gamble and Terry Hoitz. The Other Guys is very funny and will end up becoming a huge hit for Ferrell and McKay, but it just doesn’t have any kind of sustainability. Spend your money on it in theaters? Yes. Buy the DVD? Eh, that’s up to you.