Film Review: The Other Guys

Director: Adam McKay

Directed and co-written Adam McKay who was behind Anchorman and the less funny Talladega Nights. Apart from starring Ferrell and Wahlberg it also features Samuel L. Jackson, Eva Mendes, Michael Keaton and Steve Coogan in the cast.

Detective Allan Gamble (Will Ferrell with his best performance in a long time) is a forensic accountant who is happy pushing paper in the New York Police Department and is the butt of many jokes from his co-workers. Detective Terry Hoitz (Mark Wahlberg) is his partner due to a mistake when he shot Derek Jeter during the World Series thinking he was trespassing onto the field at Yankee stadium. Hoitz tries to convince Gamble to go out and solve real crimes so they can impress their boss and win back credibility with the force which seems them go up against billionaire David Ershon (Steve Coogan) and many criminals from around the world.

Detective Allan Gamble (Will Ferrell) and Detective Terry Hoitz (Mark Wahlberg)

First thing you notice is how much Will Ferrell has been reigned in during this movie for the most part, he is much more subdued and not completely over-the-top in his acting like many other movies. This makes him much funnier as an actor and works better with Wahlberg who is also impressive in a comedic role (surely lead to him getting the lead in Ted). Some of the running jokes throughout the film are quite random but really work especially the on-going gag about Captain Gene Mauch (Michael Keaton) quoting TLC song's apparently without realising it.

The plot doesn't always work but that is secondary to the humour mostly which works, Wahlberg's character does become a bit tiresome with his constant complaining whilst the characters of Samuel L. Jackson and Dwayne Johnson could have been used to greater effect but were impressive when they were around.

3/4 well-pitched random humour lifts this above many of its kind