'The Other Guys' Movie Review

On paper, the pairing of Will Ferrell and Mark Wahlberg in an buddy cop action comedy doesn't sound like the smartest move a filmmaker could make. But thanks to the unlikely chemistry between the two leads, and Wahlberg's surprising ability to be funny without overtly trying, The Other Guys is better than other recent buddy cop films (most notably this year's Cop Out). Testosterone-loaded Wahlberg doesn't pull faces or deliver jokes the way Ferrell does, but when he declares he's a peacock that needs to be able to fly, you've got to wonder why he's been keeping his inner comedian hidden for so long.

The Other Guys is too long by half an hour, and about one quarter of the jokes miss their targets, but overall it's better than Ferrell's recent outings. And while it's not in the same league as Ferrell and writer/director Adam McKay's Anchorman or Talladega Nights, it's close to Step Brothers in the percentage of jokes that land.

The Other Guys - The Story

Allen Gamble (Ferrell) is totally comfortable being the New York police detective who does all the paperwork for his precinct's hotdog detectives. He's into forensic accounting and not so into going out and actually making arrests. Meanwhile his partner, Terry Hoitz (Wahlberg), wants to be out in the field bagging the bad guys but is on desk restriction after shooting Derek Jeter. Yes, that Derek Jeter. Terry's now the laughingstock of the NYPD and has little hope of ever recovering his reputation.

However, after an unfortunate series of events puts the department's top detectives (played by Samuel L Jackson and Dwayne Johnson) primo spot at the front of the line up for grabs, Terry leaps at the chance to get back out on the streets. And because Allen's his partner, the career desk jockey is forced into actually doing some legwork. Of course this doesn't go smoothly, with their first attempt at beating another pair of detectives to a crime scene ending up with Allen's Prius resting on top of the already dead body and his car covered in cocaine.

It's apparent Allen, who loves the Little River Band and is only allowed to carry a wooden gun after his captain (Michael Keaton) relieves him of his weapon following a deliberate 'desk pop', isn't cut out for this part of the job. But Terry's not wiling to give up and drags his reluctant partner deeper into an investigation of a billionaire (Steve Coogan) who's up to his armpits in shady deals involving millions and millions of dollars.
 

The Acting

McKay surrounded Ferrell and Wahlberg with a bunch of scene-stealing comedians, and the number of recognizable actors who show up to interject a joke or two and quickly exit is pretty incredible. Add those hit and run funny people to an impressive supporting cast that includes Michael Keaton back in the world of comedy that he made his home in in the '80s (I still love him best for Mr Mom), Eva Mendes as the brunt of jokes over her Plain Jane looks, Rob Riggle and Damon Wayans Jr as detectives who think they're the department's next big thing, and Samuel L Jackson and Dwayne Johnson as two superstar detectives who are given keys to the city even after piling up millions in damages while chasing down a lowly marijuana dealer. Keaton et al keep the film lively, but The Other Guys is really Ferrell and Wahlberg's baby. If they didn't connect on screen, the film would fall completely flat. Fortunately, the odd couple pairing proves to be just the ticket for this action comedy with heart.

The Bottom Line

McKay busts up cars, buses, storefronts, explodes vehicles willy nilly and otherwise takes every single action set piece to the extreme, spoofing buddy cop films from decades past with such incredibly ridiculous, over-the-top, unbelievable action that there's no chance audiences won't get the joke. And speaking of ridiculous, the plot is too unnecessarily complicated for its own good. Still, when The Other Guys focuses on the banter between Ferrell and Wahlberg its shortcomings aren't as noticeable and the laughs come easy and often.

Disclosure: This review is based on a screening provided by the studio. For more information, please see our Ethics Policy.