Throughout history there have been heroes, mighty heroes who have rose up out of the shadows to defend humanity during there darkest hours they have stood tall against oppression and hatred to become some of the most recognizable names in history. These heroes are know far and wide for there heroic acts and selflessness but what about the guys who do there job day in and day out what about the guys who don't get there names in the history books or are adored by millions what about those guys? When will they get there day, well I am here to tell you that today is that day; today is the day that the little know heroes(I use that term loosely when talking about these heroes)get there day. Today is the day that you get to experience the story of, the legendary, the heroic, the dynamic duo (And no I am no speaking of Batman and Robin),”The Other Guys.”
I have never been a huge fan of Will Ferrell for all intensive purposes I actually loathe him(as an actor), you see Ferrell is like a dog who got out of his back yard and now has no idea where to go or what to do. All he knows is that he is free, free to roam around, free to chase cars. Just like a dog chasing a car, Ferrell never really learns when enough is enough. In "Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby" Ferrell plays an idiotic simpleton with one dream to go fast!!! So does Ricky Bobby. The main problem with "Talladega Nights" is that it relies on idiotic antics to induce laughter when there is no laughter to give. Adam McKay's "The Other Guys" is in some ways like "Talladega Nights" it follows two bungling New York City detectives Detective Allen Gamble(Will Ferrell) and his volatile partner Detective Terry Hoitz(a funnier than expected Mark Wahlberg) are two mismatched cops hot on the trail of a corporate conspiracy. That essentially is the plot of the entire film in a nutshell, through out most of the picture Gamble and Hoitz are running around aimlessly trying to piece together a conspiracy that to a normal person would seem paper-thin but too gamble and Hoitz it’s complicated. Adam McKay and Co-writer Chris Henchy have put together a rather simple yet thoroughly entertaining comedic spoof on the buddy cop movies popular in the 80's and 90's. However, there is one thing another film just like "The Other Guys" came out not too long ago it was Kevin Smith's pathetic "Cop Out" starring Bruce Willis and the insufferable Tracy Morgan. That film was Smith's attempt at spoofing the buddy cop genre sadly his film fell far too short of the required standards ranked amongst the worst films of the year as well as one of Smith's worst films. "The Other Guys" now that is a different story this film is funny but it lacks a certain hilarity to that is necessary for a film of this caliber I laughed but never hard enough that I would call myself satisfied with this film. Adam McKay has crafted a daring comedic tale in the style of Richard Donner's "Lethal Weapon" series his spoof lacks luster and a real sense of enjoyment and spirit in what he is doing and what his characters are doing they don't seem to be having any fun, of course they are suppose to be serious; but get serious! In a spoof as wild as zany as this you never for one instance buy these two bumble head ninnies as cops for a minute. The truth of the matter is you never were suppose to for the beginning Gamble and Hoitz are like water and oil they don't go together they just mix cause a mess and ruin everything. In this films case the two supposed heroes almost bungle every single situation of the case that they confront which leads to hilarious hi jinx's, audacious car chases, gay homeless people and a reference to Grand Theft Auto “The Other Guys" should be a laugh out loud riot but sadly it is just a chuckle riot where you get a few good laughs but nothing that would cause you to seek serious medical attention afterwards.
What I liked most about this film is the fact that it tries its hardest to get a good laugh out of the audience and in some key points this film does but the jokes are too dull, too lifeless at times to induce a real sense of joy while watching this film. Now don’t get me wrong I did like this movie for what it accomplished but what through me for a curve was the simple fact that it has no idea where it is going what it is going to do next or what it is going to blow up next. "The Other Guys" looks great in its trailer and the idea is great on film but the lack of joy in this film left me with a empty feeling inside that stayed with me all the way home. The kind of feeling you get from watching a movie that doesn’t do what you hoped it would do or give you the thrills you expected. That feeling the feeling I felt after seeing "The Other Guys" was quiet semi-disappointment I liked this movie then again I didn't, I laughed but I didn't laugh hard enough, I enjoyed myself but not as much as I had hoped walking in and even less when I was walking out. "The Other Guys" is the kind of film you like more when you are watching it than in retrospect.
As I stated earlier I am not a fan of Will Ferrell in fact I have nothing but disdain for all of Will Ferrell's those would include "Anchorman", "Talladega Nights" and I regrettably admit that I saw "Blades of Glory". Beyond that I have never watched another Will Ferrell movie that is until I heard that Ferrell was re-teaming with Adam McKay(director of "Step Brothers", "Talladega Nights", "Anchorman") to make a spoof on the buddy cop genre called "The Other Guys" also starring Mark Whalberg . Let me tell you I was not thrilled at first that is until I saw the trailer and nearly died laughing and that is when I knew it was going to go see a Ferrell/McKay film in theaters. Ferrell's performance in "The Other Guys" is just standard Ferrell he is over the top, corny at times, loud and at some key points obnoxious but for some reason I found myself liking Ferrell in this performance I liked the fact that he toned down his Will Ferrellness to a more likable degree, Ferrell is usually so over the top that you sit here watching him thinking "what the hell!?" instead of "this guy is hilarious"(well at least that's what I think) in this comedic farce Ferrell is perfectly cast to play the nerdy cop with a hot wife(Eva Mendes) and a boring job who just wants to be a real detective instead of just sitting on the side lines as one of the other guys. Ferrell is tolerable in this film as he plays his character Gamble at ear level making himself and his character likable he plays this one close to the chest and leaves his comfort zone and by doing so, he comes out funny and outrageous instead of loud and obnoxious. Mark Whalberg has never been one of my favorite actors I will admit that I do like him. He has proved to me that he is far more than some rapper turned actor that he has real skill, real talent that he is not using. You see after Whalberg was nominated for the Academy Award for best supporting actor for Martin Scorsese's ”The Departed" he has had a hard time finding good roles in this film we Whalberg returned to top form in a surprising comedic turn. Whalberg as Terry Hoitz is like watching my dad throw a fit all the time its both funny and depressing at the same time but more funny than it is depressing, Whalberg is not a perfect match for this film but he is damn near close. Whalberg is highly dedicated to the ridiculousness of this film in the end it pays off for him out of all the actors Whalberg perhaps has to be the funniest, the most audacious and the most ridiculous. The rest of the cast including Michael Keaton, Eva Mendes, Steve Coogan, Ray Stevenson, Samuel L. Jackson, and Dwayne Johnson are all-fantastic in a rather underwhelming comedy.
"The Other Guys" came at a time during the summer when it was all action, action, action instead of laugh, laugh, laugh but even by giving audiences a break from over the top action extravaganza's it still is not funny enough, lucid enough or hell even entertaining enough to really be called hilarious. However, "The Other Guys" tries it hardest to entertain and entertain it does even if it is for a little while this film will make you laugh but not in huge burst it has too many head shaking and shameful moments of complete and utter stupidity to induce any real true effects of laughter from its viewing audience. "The Other Guys" is solid filmmaking and high production values that almost go completely to waste.
