The Other Guys (2010)
Certified: 14
Duration: 107 minutes
Directed by: Adam McKay
Starring: Will Ferrell, Mark Wahlberg, Eva Mendes, Steve Coogan, Samuel L. Jackson, Dwayne Johnson,
Michael Keaton
KRS release

The Other Guys is an uneven but hilarious police farce\comedy. The combination of Mark Wahlberg and Will Ferrell works wonders. I enjoyed the sheer feeling of madcap and absurd madness that the film seems to thrive on – in fact, the film falters when it tries to follow a comprehensible and cohesive plot.

Combining action and humour is never an easy task but director Adam McKay seems to have found a balance. At centre of the film lies an odd couple – Mr Wahlberg and Mr Ferrell. In an inspired choice, the film is narrated by the gangsta rapper himself, Ice-T.

The film starts by showing us two police officers who are true heroes – Dwayne Johnson and Samuel L. Jackson. Their part is small but is a hilarious send-up of the role that they usually embody on screen. It also sets the tone for the rest of the film.

Allen (Mr Ferrell) and Terry (Mr Wahlberg) are two very different cops. They are desk jockeys, and never hit the street. Terry has just been through a bad break-up, is violent and wants to investigate real crime like a “real” policeman. Allen is neurotic, obsessive, drives an ecologically friendly car and is afraid of anything that moves. Their captain Gene (Michael Keaton) is more interested in his part-time job and saving face than in police work.

Soon the two are working on a case that starts off with unpaid scaffolding permits and involves millions of dollars in fraud, embezzlement and other crimes. Besides, a crack team of killers is after them, homeless people are having sex in Allen’s car, are being kidnapped and chased all over the place and more!

Allen is armed only with a wooden gun and at one point even that is deemed to be too dangerous for him to carry. Meanwhile, he is a babe magnet and this is where the Naked Gun style of comedy comes in. He is balanced out well by Mr Wahlberg’s melodramatic and anguished performance which further amplifies the humour.

Mr Coogan who is meant to be hilarious (a scene that involves bribery is quite so) is often a letdown. Meanwhile, Michael Keaton as the captain is a gem – anything that comes out of his mouth is a quote from a song by rap girl band TLC. The film’s third part – while still hilarious – needed to close down proceedings and storylines and involves a John Woo-style gunfight which is well shot but not in the film’s vein.