A few months ago we were treated to Kevin Smith's cop comedy, Cop Out. A somewhat mediocre buddy comedy that revelled in its ability to mimic the 1980s, where films of the type were practically overflowing out of theaters. While it had its moments, the jokes never were able to keep up with the more than capable stars. Under almost any circumstance I yield to Kevin Smith when it comes to comedy, but in the battle of the boys in blue, writer/director Adam McKay has trumped the Jersey boy with one of the funniest films of the year.
If looking for a modern day pairing the likes of Hitchcock and Jimmy Stewart, one need look no further than the crackpot union of McKay and Will Ferrell. Ferrell, who has been the centerpiece of all of McKay's biggest hits(Anchorman, Step Brothers, Talladega Nights), brings his goofball everyman routine to the role of Detective Allen Gamble, a desk jockey for the police force with no desire to find any action whatsoever. His pent up partner, Terry Hoitz(Mark Wahlberg) is the complete opposite. An action junkie in the mold of Lethal Weapon's Martin Riggs, he sits on the sidelines after a disastrous run-in with Derek Jeter causes a PR nightmare.
Not that it would matter anyway, as all the glory and accolades are snatched up by the force's two gloryhound supercops, Highsmith(Samuel L. Jackson) and Danson(Dwayne Johnson). While these guys literally dive head first into every shoot out and car chase, the other guys are left behind to file paperwork. But when the two big shots are suddenly taken out of the picture, the city needs somebody to fill the void and be heroes. Any guesses as to who?
The thing with any McKay film is that you know there will be no shortage of gags, and in far too many of his other movies this has caused a problem. So pressed to make sure every scene is a comedy home run, too many times Anchorman and Talladega Nights would simply strike out, counting on Ferrell to make weak material work. The expectation being that Ferrell could make even the most ludicrous scene funny just by his mere presence. He's not tasked with so much of the comedy burden this time, as Wahlberg playing the straight man is easily just as funny. That's not to say Ferrell isn't his usual wacky self. It's because he's got a character who has more of a purpose, and isn't just a one-note act. The pairing of he and Wahlberg isn't too far from other mismatched pairings we've seen in the past, but the squabbling that goes on between these two is pure gold. It must've been a kick for the former Marky Mark to not be the irresistable object of every ladies' desire in a film for once. That's right, Will Ferrell = Mack Daddy.
The story itself is pretty flimsy stuff, but a phenomenal supporting cast makes it work. Allen's obsession is jittery financial broker David Ershon(Steve Coogan), who he believes is up to no good but has no proof. Terry thinks everyone is a drug dealer. Everyone, that is, except for Allen's plain jane wife, Sheila(Eva Mendes). Terry can't figure out what a smokin' hot piece like her is doing with a stiff like Allen. He treats her like crap. She's a superwoman who does everything and anything he asks. It makes no sense. Nor should it. That's why it works. This is one of the story's subplots that really hits on all cylinders. Along with the aforementioned tandem of Highsmith and Danson, the mismatched marriage between Allen and Sheila is one that I'd kill to see a spinoff of. Let's make that happen.
I don't recall too many of Adam McKay's previous films being balls out intense, but the action sequences here are intense. The Other Guys could work either as a straight up comedy, or as a police thriller. Not at all what I expected, but The Expendables has a tall order matching The Other Guys' opening sequence.
An out of nowhere closing credit sequence featuring statistics and facts regarding white collar crime and punishment doesn't fit quite as neatly as they might've hoped. The point is obvious, that the government goes much harsher on the petty criminal than the ones who are robbing people of their life savings. However it's not as if that subject matter is treated with any real seriousness during the film, so teaching us a lesson about it later just seems like a last ditch effort at depth. Hello. You just had Will Ferrell dressed up as a pimp five minutes ago. Save the lessons for homeroom, fellas.
Admittedly I am not the biggest Will Ferrell fan, but I think this is my favorite of his characters since Frank the Tank. This summer's been pretty weak when it comes to really great comedies. Even if it wasn't, The Other Guys would still stand head and shoulders above the rest.
