I'm disappointed to see that this film still hasn't garnered the attnention it deserves. Even back when it came out it did so pretty quietly and was thus buried under other big budget flicks. Rarely though does a comedy keep you entertained and laughing throughout pretty much the entire film. Most comedies try and fail, or take breaks from the humor with someone else to preserve material. But Ferrell and Wahlberg play off of eachother perfectly in this film and have real chemistry to keep the film quality high. This is also one of the mostquotable films ever. 9 years later and my dad and I still shoot off a "I'm a peacock captain, you gotta let me fly", or a "if I were a lion and you were a tuna I'd swim out to the middle of the ocean and freakin eat you" every once in a short while. I definitely recommend this movie for fans of comedy
384 Reviews
Great ridiculousness
SnoopyStyle28 September 2014
P.K. Highsmith (Samuel L. Jackson) and Christopher Danson (Dwayne Johnson) are the best action hero rock star cops in the NYPD. They get into outlandish chases for nothing arrests. Everybody loves them. Martin (Rob Riggle) and Fosse (Damon Wayans Jr.) are the jokers. Captain Gene Mauch (Michael Keaton) is in charge. Then there are the Other Guys. Allen Gamble (Will Ferrell) is a naive paper pusher. His partner Terry Hoitz (Mark Wahlberg) is still trying to make up for shooting Derek Jeter. Gamble is eager to do paperwork for the heroes and Hoitz hates him for it. Highsmith and Danson finally kill themselves stupidly in a chase. Everybody wants to be the next hero cops. Hoitz forces Gamble to take on a high profile case. David Ershon (Steve Coogan) is an investment banker who lost $32 billion of Pamela Boardman (Anne Heche)'s fund. She demands that he replace the losses and he tries to go on the run. Gamble arrests Ershon on a scaffolding permit violation but a professional team takes him. On the personal side, Hoitz can't believe that Gamble is married to Sheila (Eva Mendes).
I would have loved a buddy cop movie with Samuel L. Jackson and Dwayne Johnson. This is just as good in a completely different way. Ferrell is hilarious and Wahlberg is the perfect angry foil. The fighting partners have great chemistry. The angrier Wahlberg gets, the funnier the movie gets. Adam McKay has a great sense of the ridiculous. The story is stupid. The setups are insane. The dialog is hilarious. There are some gut busting laughs.
I would have loved a buddy cop movie with Samuel L. Jackson and Dwayne Johnson. This is just as good in a completely different way. Ferrell is hilarious and Wahlberg is the perfect angry foil. The fighting partners have great chemistry. The angrier Wahlberg gets, the funnier the movie gets. Adam McKay has a great sense of the ridiculous. The story is stupid. The setups are insane. The dialog is hilarious. There are some gut busting laughs.
A hidden gem !
hkritikos200428 December 2015
A hidden gem ! Thats what I think about this movie while this is definitely not a 6,6/10 movie ! I have seen it many times and I can say that it gets better and better every time . Will Ferrell & Mark Wahlberg seemed to be a great duo with Michael Keaton as a surprise ! All of those 3 as main characters worked great in their roles giving as a result great laughs ! Michael Keaton was a blast in a role that reminded me a bit of " Mr. Mom " 30 years later .
This film served as great entertainment with its colorful cast and plot twists, while the plot was as good as it can get for this kind of comedy . After watching it for the first time years ago I hoped for a part 2 as the end of it could easily give birth a second part. I hope even after all those years a part 2 will take place so we could see all these great actors once again all together !
Overall, this is a great movie with a mix of a ton of laughs and some action all rolled into one. If you're looking for a pick-me-up or to laugh hysterically, this is undoubtedly the movie for you.
This film served as great entertainment with its colorful cast and plot twists, while the plot was as good as it can get for this kind of comedy . After watching it for the first time years ago I hoped for a part 2 as the end of it could easily give birth a second part. I hope even after all those years a part 2 will take place so we could see all these great actors once again all together !
Overall, this is a great movie with a mix of a ton of laughs and some action all rolled into one. If you're looking for a pick-me-up or to laugh hysterically, this is undoubtedly the movie for you.
An action spoof that hits most of its targets (if not all). Ferrell and Wahlberg are hilarious
dvc515915 October 2010
Will Ferrell is back since the disappointing "Land of the Lost"! Who knew Mark Wahlberg could be genuinely hilarious? "The Other Guys" is the latest comedy to poke fun at the buddy cop genre, but this one is one of the best because the actors and director knew what they were doing.
Ferrell and Wahlberg have terrific chemistry and both of them have perfect comedic timing. But let's not forget the other supporting actors (too many to list here), as all of them have some memorable and quotable lines.
The jokes weave through slapstick and crude territory, while not being overly vulgar and overdone. The story is actually pretty engaging, as it is a genuine cop mystery at its core, but it is used as a vehicle for all the jokes to come in. And the jokes kept coming and had the entire audience laughing as well, this one the loudest compared to the previous Steve Carell entries "Date Night" and "Dinner For Schmucks". Sorry Steve, this year Will and Mark stole the audience.
Having said that, the production design, cinematography, editing, stunts/special effects are good, and the direction by Adam McKay is lighthearted and brisk. McKay is seriously becoming a big name in comedy film directors, and here is another memorable feather in his cap.
Overall, if you are in need of a laugh, see this movie A.S.A.P. This one is one of the funniest movies in years, and that's being honest.
Overall rating: 73/10
Ferrell and Wahlberg have terrific chemistry and both of them have perfect comedic timing. But let's not forget the other supporting actors (too many to list here), as all of them have some memorable and quotable lines.
The jokes weave through slapstick and crude territory, while not being overly vulgar and overdone. The story is actually pretty engaging, as it is a genuine cop mystery at its core, but it is used as a vehicle for all the jokes to come in. And the jokes kept coming and had the entire audience laughing as well, this one the loudest compared to the previous Steve Carell entries "Date Night" and "Dinner For Schmucks". Sorry Steve, this year Will and Mark stole the audience.
Having said that, the production design, cinematography, editing, stunts/special effects are good, and the direction by Adam McKay is lighthearted and brisk. McKay is seriously becoming a big name in comedy film directors, and here is another memorable feather in his cap.
Overall, if you are in need of a laugh, see this movie A.S.A.P. This one is one of the funniest movies in years, and that's being honest.
Overall rating: 73/10
Wahlberg - The angry cop
chelano13 August 2010
OK first off I will say that the story was just OK. But that usually happens in comedies. So you have to rely more on the film trying to make the viewer laugh. If you are a fan of Will Ferrell's comedy and Mark Wahlberg, then you will pretty much laugh throughout the film. Ferrell really gets to act like himself in this film. I mean he is playing a character, but he gets to use his typical humor. Wahlberg plays a really angry cop and some of the things that come out of his mouth will really get you laughing. I actually laughed more at Wahlberg than Ferrell. Samuel L. Jackson and Dwayne Johnson are in the film a bit as the head cops; like a newer Starsky and Hutch. They were entertaining. Eva Mendes plays Ferrell's wife and she is actually entertaining. Then the chief of the police station is played by Michael Keaton. Throughout the movie he kept quoting from the group TLC. He was actually also pretty funny. You will find yourself laughing a lot throughout the film. But there are some parts where they do try to be serious and most of the time it can be a turn off in a good comedy. There are some great one liners and scenes that will stick in your mind. So a pretty good comedy and I will end by saying, I want to see Mark Mahlberg do more comedic roles, because he is pretty good in them.
Mindnumbing Fun. Ideally suited for kids. But adults could love it too.
imseeg31 July 2018
This is a mindnumbing fun detective action parody movie. Come on, if you know Will Ferrell you know what you are gonna get: ridiculous jokes. And the jokes are good. They are cheesy, corny, childish, but they are still good jokes. And that's what this movie is all about, just having some mindnumbing entertaining fun.
Short, very short cameo appearances (5minutes) by Samuel L Jackson and Dwayne Johnson. The other cop duo played by Will Ferrell and Mark Wahlberg are the leading characters of this story and they are being portrayed as whimps. Anything that is dumb than dumber comes to mind when we see these 2 dumb detectives do their thing. Or aren´ t they that dumb after all? Nothing is what it seems in this hilarious action comedy in which Ferrell and Wahlberg discover a billion dollar scam by some pathetic crook from the stock market. Will they catch the crook?
Ideally suited for kids. But adults could love it too, because there are some more subtle parody jokes on the detective genre mixed into this movie. Just have a good laugh.
Short, very short cameo appearances (5minutes) by Samuel L Jackson and Dwayne Johnson. The other cop duo played by Will Ferrell and Mark Wahlberg are the leading characters of this story and they are being portrayed as whimps. Anything that is dumb than dumber comes to mind when we see these 2 dumb detectives do their thing. Or aren´ t they that dumb after all? Nothing is what it seems in this hilarious action comedy in which Ferrell and Wahlberg discover a billion dollar scam by some pathetic crook from the stock market. Will they catch the crook?
Ideally suited for kids. But adults could love it too, because there are some more subtle parody jokes on the detective genre mixed into this movie. Just have a good laugh.
Funny start but fades fast
sidfargas19 August 2010
The movie is funny to start and rolls along nicely but quickly loses all steam and finishes quite weak. Having every single character be an off center borderline nutjob loses something without any straight men to set them up or play off of. Mark Wahlberg played the straight man part well for the first half of the movie but turns as loony as everyone else before it's over. A few laugh out loud moments save the entire experience but it really could've and should've been a better film in general and certainly funnier across the board.
Not nearly as bad as Step Brothers but not half as good as Anchorman. Probably Semi-Pro and Jackie Moon levels here.
Not nearly as bad as Step Brothers but not half as good as Anchorman. Probably Semi-Pro and Jackie Moon levels here.
I couldn't stop laughing
Clarets20165 June 2016
I don't normally write reviews but after reading some of the awful reviews some people wrote about this film I had to come to its defence.
This film had me laughing from start to finish. If you like the silliness of Will Ferrell films or the humour in Ted then you will love this film. The comedy can be played very deadpan despite the surrealness (is that a word) of the situation. The comic timing is great and the chemistry between all the main characters is excellent. When I saw this film only had a 6.7 IMDb rating I was a little reluctant to watch it but I saw the trailer and that drew me in. I didn't regret it.
If you want some great laughs, watch this film.
This film had me laughing from start to finish. If you like the silliness of Will Ferrell films or the humour in Ted then you will love this film. The comedy can be played very deadpan despite the surrealness (is that a word) of the situation. The comic timing is great and the chemistry between all the main characters is excellent. When I saw this film only had a 6.7 IMDb rating I was a little reluctant to watch it but I saw the trailer and that drew me in. I didn't regret it.
If you want some great laughs, watch this film.
The Other Guys: An Excellent Action Comedy and Satire
monkeysgalore29 October 2018
I have to say, I did not expect this film to be as good as it was. Another great addition to the buddy cop genre, as well as a satire of it, this film has huge laughs, and good action sequences. I really can not for the life of me understand why this movie catches so much hate as I've seen in other reviews here. Yes, there are some weak points, as with any movie, but the good HEAVILY overshadows the bad.
Will Ferrel and Mark Wahlberg star as Allen Gamble and Terry Hoitz, two under-achieving New York cops who, along with everyone else on the force, live in the shadow of the two super-cops, Christopher Danson (Dwayne Johnson) and P.K. Highsmith (Samuel L. Jackson). When an unexpected turn of events puts Danson and Highsmith out of commission, Allen and Terry decide to step up and take on an investigation of their own, leading to a tangle with foreign operatives, and an arrogant billionaire.
The Other Guys knows what it wants to be, and it achieves its goal in spades. People should know what they're getting into with this, as it delivers exactly what it advertises; a spoof of the 'buddy cop' genre, and a fast-paced action comedy for anyone to enjoy.
I don't understand how a lot of people cannot find anything in this movie funny. From start to finish, I found it hilarious, and laughed out loud several times. There's just as much smart humor and witty interplay between characters as there is random, often weird humor that is present in many of Ferrel's films, and the writing manages to balance the smart humor and the random, sometimes dumb humor very well. There are definitely some loud, sometimes obnoxious moments, such as Ferrel's occasional outbursts, and his 'Gator' emotional episodes, especially the "Pimps Don't Cry" music number, but aside from those small instances, I really had a ball watching this.
The movie starts, and ends, with action, and in between are a bunch of great moments. There's an intense opening car chase, a parking lot fight scene, an office building shootout, and an intense-action-packed final car chase and standoff that I really enjoyed, especially considering the tone of the film. I think it's important to note that even though this film is, at heart, a comedy, the action remains serious, and it's never really slapstick or funny. The first and last car chases were especially entertaining, and they felt very "Bad Boys"-ish.
Ferrel and Wahlberg have great chemistry, and their constant bickering and clashing of personalities really is consistently funny. They both throw themselves into their roles, and their dedication made this movie that much more fun. Ferrell is hilarious, time and again proving himself as one of the best comedy actors out there (you can't help but laugh just by looking at him), and Wahlberg is one of my favorite actors, so it was a joy to watch them together. Michael Keaton also delivered a hilarious, underrated performance, so props to him.
Overall, I highly, highly recommend it, to both fans of the genre, and fans of the actors. 10/10.
Will Ferrel and Mark Wahlberg star as Allen Gamble and Terry Hoitz, two under-achieving New York cops who, along with everyone else on the force, live in the shadow of the two super-cops, Christopher Danson (Dwayne Johnson) and P.K. Highsmith (Samuel L. Jackson). When an unexpected turn of events puts Danson and Highsmith out of commission, Allen and Terry decide to step up and take on an investigation of their own, leading to a tangle with foreign operatives, and an arrogant billionaire.
The Other Guys knows what it wants to be, and it achieves its goal in spades. People should know what they're getting into with this, as it delivers exactly what it advertises; a spoof of the 'buddy cop' genre, and a fast-paced action comedy for anyone to enjoy.
I don't understand how a lot of people cannot find anything in this movie funny. From start to finish, I found it hilarious, and laughed out loud several times. There's just as much smart humor and witty interplay between characters as there is random, often weird humor that is present in many of Ferrel's films, and the writing manages to balance the smart humor and the random, sometimes dumb humor very well. There are definitely some loud, sometimes obnoxious moments, such as Ferrel's occasional outbursts, and his 'Gator' emotional episodes, especially the "Pimps Don't Cry" music number, but aside from those small instances, I really had a ball watching this.
The movie starts, and ends, with action, and in between are a bunch of great moments. There's an intense opening car chase, a parking lot fight scene, an office building shootout, and an intense-action-packed final car chase and standoff that I really enjoyed, especially considering the tone of the film. I think it's important to note that even though this film is, at heart, a comedy, the action remains serious, and it's never really slapstick or funny. The first and last car chases were especially entertaining, and they felt very "Bad Boys"-ish.
Ferrel and Wahlberg have great chemistry, and their constant bickering and clashing of personalities really is consistently funny. They both throw themselves into their roles, and their dedication made this movie that much more fun. Ferrell is hilarious, time and again proving himself as one of the best comedy actors out there (you can't help but laugh just by looking at him), and Wahlberg is one of my favorite actors, so it was a joy to watch them together. Michael Keaton also delivered a hilarious, underrated performance, so props to him.
Overall, I highly, highly recommend it, to both fans of the genre, and fans of the actors. 10/10.
Buddy Cops, Buddy Cops: What they gonna do?
Kamurai2518 June 2020
Really good watch, will watch again, and can recommend.
This is weird proof that Will Ferrell can do (some level) of action, and (as always) he's hilarious alongside Mark Wahlberg (see also "Daddy's Home").
To me, this is a testament of how good Will Ferrell is, not only can he elevate a bad premise (it just wasn't that strong), but he can elevate another actor (not saying Mark Wahlberg is bad, he's just not Will Ferrell).
With the on screen chemistry, a slew of supporting actors, including Michael Keaton, and some actually good action scenes, the onslaught of comedy sugar definitely helps any of the weaker jokes go down.
While I think the weak point is the villains: its a very bland "greedy millionaire business" trope, but even they get some good jokes in.
This is weird proof that Will Ferrell can do (some level) of action, and (as always) he's hilarious alongside Mark Wahlberg (see also "Daddy's Home").
To me, this is a testament of how good Will Ferrell is, not only can he elevate a bad premise (it just wasn't that strong), but he can elevate another actor (not saying Mark Wahlberg is bad, he's just not Will Ferrell).
With the on screen chemistry, a slew of supporting actors, including Michael Keaton, and some actually good action scenes, the onslaught of comedy sugar definitely helps any of the weaker jokes go down.
While I think the weak point is the villains: its a very bland "greedy millionaire business" trope, but even they get some good jokes in.
A solid comedy in the main but I found some of the absurd and silly dialogue to be very funny
bob the moo5 April 2011
If movies have taught us anything it is that the best cops are those that take the risks, do the outrageous and shoot their way through any problem while also coming up with a wise-crack kiss-off line. These guys are the heroes in the action movie cliché, along with the grizzled but tired boss, the paper-pushers and, of course, the other guys who make up the squad room. When misfortune meets one pair of tough cops, one such "other guy" sees the chance to step up into this role. He is Hoitz (trapped in a desk job due to shooting baseball player Derek Jeter and costing his team the title) and his partner is a dull accountant type who weirdly has amazing luck with women. Hoitz is disappointed that their first big case is over expired scaffolding permits, but it is not long before they discover more to the case.
I heard so-so things about this film so I decided to give it a miss in the cinema, plus although I like Ferrell, he isn't the most consistent with his films and this looked like it won't be that good. In reality though it was actually pretty funny and it just seemed to hit my sense of humour right when I watched it. It is ridiculous stuff though and a lot of the dialogue and banter is absurd but to me this is part of the charm of it. One could argue that it doesn't really work as it was intended because, as a spoof of action movie excess from the point of view of "the other guys" it doesn't really work and isn't clever enough; sure it can laugh at the Hollywood excess at the start, but it isn't that smart beyond that point. Likewise one could also point to the final thirty or so minutes where the action aspect does rather take over and the comedy takes a backseat; or even one could question why the end credits decide that the film should suddenly become some sort of documentary against corruption in the financial sector - something it didn't do up till that point, despite being set in this world to a point. All of these would be true because the film is not a brilliant one and these flaws and weaknesses are all reasons why.
The thing is though that when the film revels in the silly comedy dialogue it is really good fun. The writers have a good ear for it and the cast deliver them well; it isn't clever but it seems full of surprising and engaging nonsense dialogue that did make me laugh. The nonsense relationship between the lead two, the nonsense college background of Gamble, the nonsense conversations between the characters, the nonsense events that happen to the red Prius, I found them all really funny and it was always a shame when plot had to come and do some things to move the film along.
Ferrell and Walhberg work really well together and the film seems to be aware of this because it does give them plenty of time together (perhaps contributing to the film running a tad longer than it should). They both have great comic delivery here - in particular deadpanning some great dialogues sequences and making them funnier through their delivery. Coogan is pretty good in a supporting role while Keaton, Mendes and others all let themselves be used as jokes and also deliver the comic material well.
It isn't a great film by any means but it had a great sense of absurdity and nonsense to it that I really enjoyed a lot. The plot I can take or leave and the decision at the last minute to make it try and have substance just doesn't work but otherwise it is very funny and the central relationship and banter would be one I'd be happy to see again.
I heard so-so things about this film so I decided to give it a miss in the cinema, plus although I like Ferrell, he isn't the most consistent with his films and this looked like it won't be that good. In reality though it was actually pretty funny and it just seemed to hit my sense of humour right when I watched it. It is ridiculous stuff though and a lot of the dialogue and banter is absurd but to me this is part of the charm of it. One could argue that it doesn't really work as it was intended because, as a spoof of action movie excess from the point of view of "the other guys" it doesn't really work and isn't clever enough; sure it can laugh at the Hollywood excess at the start, but it isn't that smart beyond that point. Likewise one could also point to the final thirty or so minutes where the action aspect does rather take over and the comedy takes a backseat; or even one could question why the end credits decide that the film should suddenly become some sort of documentary against corruption in the financial sector - something it didn't do up till that point, despite being set in this world to a point. All of these would be true because the film is not a brilliant one and these flaws and weaknesses are all reasons why.
The thing is though that when the film revels in the silly comedy dialogue it is really good fun. The writers have a good ear for it and the cast deliver them well; it isn't clever but it seems full of surprising and engaging nonsense dialogue that did make me laugh. The nonsense relationship between the lead two, the nonsense college background of Gamble, the nonsense conversations between the characters, the nonsense events that happen to the red Prius, I found them all really funny and it was always a shame when plot had to come and do some things to move the film along.
Ferrell and Walhberg work really well together and the film seems to be aware of this because it does give them plenty of time together (perhaps contributing to the film running a tad longer than it should). They both have great comic delivery here - in particular deadpanning some great dialogues sequences and making them funnier through their delivery. Coogan is pretty good in a supporting role while Keaton, Mendes and others all let themselves be used as jokes and also deliver the comic material well.
It isn't a great film by any means but it had a great sense of absurdity and nonsense to it that I really enjoyed a lot. The plot I can take or leave and the decision at the last minute to make it try and have substance just doesn't work but otherwise it is very funny and the central relationship and banter would be one I'd be happy to see again.
Ferrell and Wahlberg are flying peacocks
Samiam37 August 2010
The Other Guys doesn't bring anything new to the screen, but as a buddy movie, it is pretty solid. Writer/director Adam McKay milks the formula for as much comedic value as possible, and it is enough to sustain the viewer for a hundred minutes. It starts to fly off the handle (a bit) around the end, by going into action mode, but even here, the presence of comedy is evident. It kind of makes you wonder how Michael Bay would fare if he tried comedy.
Scene one has a little too much Michael Bay in it. It's a sequence designed to make sure the audience is listening, It is a bit overdone, and is certainly the wrong type of sequence to put opening credits over. We are not sure which to watch, the film or the names of the people who made it. From there on, The Others Guys, runs nicely.
Will Ferrell and Mark Wahlberg are a great mixed matched couple. Not only are their personalities different (mostly), but they could not be more physically dissimilar. It never occurred to me just how big Will Ferrell is (then again the last time I saw him was a few years ago, in Stranger than fiction)
I got a kick out of this one. The Other Guys is pretty good for its type, and offers enough laughs to be worth your money.
Scene one has a little too much Michael Bay in it. It's a sequence designed to make sure the audience is listening, It is a bit overdone, and is certainly the wrong type of sequence to put opening credits over. We are not sure which to watch, the film or the names of the people who made it. From there on, The Others Guys, runs nicely.
Will Ferrell and Mark Wahlberg are a great mixed matched couple. Not only are their personalities different (mostly), but they could not be more physically dissimilar. It never occurred to me just how big Will Ferrell is (then again the last time I saw him was a few years ago, in Stranger than fiction)
I got a kick out of this one. The Other Guys is pretty good for its type, and offers enough laughs to be worth your money.
Ridiculous
petesmithhome16 December 2021
actually 7 and a half
tk98303 July 2020
The sax parts replicating something between a film noir atmosphere and detective b-movie from the 80s are really hilarious. just for those moments it deserves all the praise.
perceive it more like a social critique rather than a comedy. it makes much more sense that way.
Can't believe this is currently 6.6
portmanlas20 August 2019
First third HILARIOUS, rest of movie tries and fails
abacaba13 April 2020
What a strange experience. I was laughing out loud in the first minutes and kept laughing during the first thirty or forty minutes -- a rarity in a comedy film for me. The characters are great, the comedy superb, I was thrilled to be watching this gem.
And then it sort of died. It was like the writers ran out of good jokes and the movie felt uncomfortable, stale, and tiresome. Very very strange.
You want some great laughs to make you feel really good? Watch the first part of this movie! When it stops being funny, stop the film and imagine it will end the way you think it will and be satisfied with that.
First part of film: 9/10. Second part of film: 3/10.
And then it sort of died. It was like the writers ran out of good jokes and the movie felt uncomfortable, stale, and tiresome. Very very strange.
You want some great laughs to make you feel really good? Watch the first part of this movie! When it stops being funny, stop the film and imagine it will end the way you think it will and be satisfied with that.
First part of film: 9/10. Second part of film: 3/10.
Incredibly funny comedy
masonsaul5 April 2020
The Other Guys is an incredibly funny comedy that's gleefully stupid and over the top as well as effectively playing with the conventions of buddy cop movies. Will Ferrell and Mark Wahlberg are perfect together and have perfect chemistry. Dwayne Johnson and Samuel L. Jackson are ridiculously funny together in their brief scenes. Michael Keaton and Steve Coogan are both great. It's consistently funny with plenty of hilarious moments throughout. It's also extremely well paced. Adam McKay's direction is excellent and the action scenes are surprisingly well filmed. The soundtrack is really good.
Good silly fun
edgeofreality24 July 2020
The film works almost consistently because of the two leads. The conceit that Ferrel is irresistible to attractive women adds an extra layer of absurdity. He is at his best playing a soft pedantic bear, while Wahlberg, short and muscly, is the perfect straight guy with his fits of righteous rage. The plot gets in the way a bit towards the end, but the jokes are usually strong enough to keep you going, and there is an unforgettable early chase scene on a tall building which parodies Hollywood action stunts whilst neatly getting the cop heroes out of the way so the other guys can step in.
Will Ferrell and Mark Wahlberg provide plenty of good laughs in The Other Guys
tavm9 August 2010
If one didn't see the trailers on TV and in theatres or look at the beginning credits, one would think-judging from the beginning sequence-that the stars of this comedy-action movie were Samuel L. Jackson and Dwayne Johnson. They're emphasized a lot early on but when they disappear halfway through, that's when the plot involving mismatched partners Will Ferrell and Mark Wahlberg get into gear. I must say right here that Ferrell and Wahlberg get quite a few good laughs out of their contrasting personalities especially when the latter wonders constantly how the former gets so many hot women. Also, seeing Ferrell explaining the impossibility of certain things whenever Wahlberg threatens him is also pretty hilarious. Also good are Eva Mendes as Will's wife, Steve Coogan as financial wizard David Ershon, and Michael Keaton as the superior officer who also works at Bath and Beyond. Not everything works but director/co-writer Adam McKay keeps things moving nearly smoothly throughout.
Needed to be more edgy and risqué
freemantle_uk20 September 2010
There are many great actor-director combos, Scorsese and De Niro, Scorsese and Di Caprio, Greengrass and Damon, Wright and Penn, etc
Adam McKay and Will Ferrell careers have been interlinked since Saturday Night Live. Under McKay's direction Ferrell has lived out a number of childhood fantasy, such as journalist, NASCAR driver and now a police officer.
Detectives Danson (Dwayne Johnson) and High smith (Samuel L. Jackson) are hero cops in New York who cause a massive amount of property damage along the way. Allen Gamble (Ferrell) and Terry Hoitz (Mark Wahlberg) are officers who are forced to do there paperwork. Gamble enjoys the paperwork, but Hoitz longs to be in the heart of the action and in disgrace after shooting Derek Jeter in the knee. But when the hero cops die, the NYPD needs a replacement partnership and Gamble may have found the case involving investment banker Sir David Ershon (Steve Coogan).
McKay and Ferrell both know that there films are not going to be awarding films but they know how to deliver a laugh. With The Other Guys they set out to parody (with love) buddy comedies, like Lethal Weapon, looking into the supporting cops of the officers who cause all the damage. There are some really funny moments and jokes, but this was when the film was more risqué and edgy involving sex (particularly involving homeless people), race and playing against police conventions, like when Ferrell talks a bloke into killing himself. But these moments are not frequent enough. McKay plays the humour too safely, what he should have done was been more edgy jokes, more willing to use language, violence, sex and race. The film should have gone for a 15/R rating, instead of playing it safe with the 12A/PG-13 rating.
The action was decent, better then in some films, but of course McKay is a comedy director. The opening chase was deliciously over the top and a homage to the Lethal Weapon series. It was both funny and exciting. Other action sequence were well handled.
If you are not a fan of Will Ferrell's over-the-top stupidity and physical performance then it is best that you avoid the film: but if you like it you will be happy. There are good moments of more understated humour like when he mentions how the Securities Exchange Commissions has failed with previous financial investigations. Walhberg's performance was strong as the straight, reacting to Ferrell's playing it by the book personality who avoids risks: he does humour with his anger and a moment I enjoy was when he threw Allen's gift out a car window. Being British is it enforced by death that you have to like Steve Coogan, and he was enjoyable, as well as supporting cast members like Eva Mendas. But Ferrell does play on what must be his personal fantasy, that hot women just fall in love with him.
Also at times the film does divert into sub-plots and leads that go nowhere, none has enough of a comic payoff. The film was too long and should have been around 1 hour 40 minutes, a good length for a comedy.
Jackson and Johnson were both very fun as the over-the-top, action packed cops and they deserve a spin-off.
A decent effort, but try harder for next time. Hopefully the DVD will be more adult.
Detectives Danson (Dwayne Johnson) and High smith (Samuel L. Jackson) are hero cops in New York who cause a massive amount of property damage along the way. Allen Gamble (Ferrell) and Terry Hoitz (Mark Wahlberg) are officers who are forced to do there paperwork. Gamble enjoys the paperwork, but Hoitz longs to be in the heart of the action and in disgrace after shooting Derek Jeter in the knee. But when the hero cops die, the NYPD needs a replacement partnership and Gamble may have found the case involving investment banker Sir David Ershon (Steve Coogan).
McKay and Ferrell both know that there films are not going to be awarding films but they know how to deliver a laugh. With The Other Guys they set out to parody (with love) buddy comedies, like Lethal Weapon, looking into the supporting cops of the officers who cause all the damage. There are some really funny moments and jokes, but this was when the film was more risqué and edgy involving sex (particularly involving homeless people), race and playing against police conventions, like when Ferrell talks a bloke into killing himself. But these moments are not frequent enough. McKay plays the humour too safely, what he should have done was been more edgy jokes, more willing to use language, violence, sex and race. The film should have gone for a 15/R rating, instead of playing it safe with the 12A/PG-13 rating.
The action was decent, better then in some films, but of course McKay is a comedy director. The opening chase was deliciously over the top and a homage to the Lethal Weapon series. It was both funny and exciting. Other action sequence were well handled.
If you are not a fan of Will Ferrell's over-the-top stupidity and physical performance then it is best that you avoid the film: but if you like it you will be happy. There are good moments of more understated humour like when he mentions how the Securities Exchange Commissions has failed with previous financial investigations. Walhberg's performance was strong as the straight, reacting to Ferrell's playing it by the book personality who avoids risks: he does humour with his anger and a moment I enjoy was when he threw Allen's gift out a car window. Being British is it enforced by death that you have to like Steve Coogan, and he was enjoyable, as well as supporting cast members like Eva Mendas. But Ferrell does play on what must be his personal fantasy, that hot women just fall in love with him.
Also at times the film does divert into sub-plots and leads that go nowhere, none has enough of a comic payoff. The film was too long and should have been around 1 hour 40 minutes, a good length for a comedy.
Jackson and Johnson were both very fun as the over-the-top, action packed cops and they deserve a spin-off.
A decent effort, but try harder for next time. Hopefully the DVD will be more adult.
Ferrell/McKay duo and buddy cop genre finds some chemistry
Movie_Muse_Reviews9 August 2010
The buddy cop comedy sub-genre has been limping about Hollywood as if shot in the leg from an awry 9mm bullet. Now it's been found by the duo of Will Ferrell and Adam McKay, the pair behind "Anchorman," "Talladega Nights" and "Step Brothers," whose brand of contemporary idiot humor has been steadily met with compounding criticism the last few years. But the combination of these two seemingly stale styles works somehow in "The Other Guys," even if it's not a total revitalization for either party.
Ferrell's humor has led to the comedic veteran being liked or loathed in most peoples' opinions. Detective Allen Gamble borrows a bit more from the Ron Burgundy character profile that made Ferrell a household name in 2004 only much more modest. Both rely on the childlike innocence or unawareness that Ferrell handles best. Consider his most recent exploits, "The Other Guys" is refreshing.
Pairing him with someone unpredictable in Mark Wahlberg was also a wise move. Wahlberg is the Type A of the twosome: angry, impulsive and bordering on wackjob. He operates on one level while Ferrell bounces up and down, occasionally going to his level and sometimes understating it nicely. It's a much more effective co-star than John C. Reilly, who offers too much of the same style as Ferrell, which in "Talladega Nights" and "Step Brothers" caused Ferrell to be the Type A guy.
The two play detectives Gamble and Terry Hoitz, two NYPD desk jockeys who are, of course, totally mismatched. Gamble was promoted from accounting and Hoitz demoted from security. When Hoitz smells a big case surrounding a Bernie Madoff-like investor (Steve Coogan) that might put him back in the action where he feels he belongs, he forces the oblivious Gamble to step in with him.
Fitted with even so much as jazz saxophone transition music, "The Other Guys" is a spoof at heart. Instead of the cheesy explosion that the pair survives in the nick of time, these guys get knocked off their feet and writhe on the ground in pain, with Ferrell shouting about blisters on his hands and the misleading nature of movie explosions. This additional "objective" of needing the film to serve as a spoof forces a bit more creativity out of McKay and Ferrell's writing. The usual improvised shenanigans wouldn't cut it here.
The supporting cast in "Other Guys" is much more cameo-like than in past McKay/Ferrell movies. Rather than get wrapped up in giving other characters adequate screen time, the focus stays on Allen and Terry and their chemistry. Although it undercuts characters such as Eva Mendes as Allen's hot wife and Michael Keaton in a surprising but welcome comedic role as the police captain, it focuses the humor better and doesn't let it get to eye-rolling levels too often, at least as far as dumb characters are concerned.
"The Other Guys" definitely starts out stronger than it finishes. The biggest laughs are at the beginning and fade at the end as happens all too often in comedies that worry too much about resolving an uninteresting plot at the end of the film while also burning out recurring jokes (such as the Toyota Prius that Allen drives having a prominent place in the film).
It's far from a Ferrell/McKay renaissance and it certainly won't leave you clamoring for more twists on the buddy cop comedy, but the two sides find a chemistry together that however brief, refreshes in a year light on good laughs.
~Steven C
Visit my site http://moviemusereviews.com
Ferrell's humor has led to the comedic veteran being liked or loathed in most peoples' opinions. Detective Allen Gamble borrows a bit more from the Ron Burgundy character profile that made Ferrell a household name in 2004 only much more modest. Both rely on the childlike innocence or unawareness that Ferrell handles best. Consider his most recent exploits, "The Other Guys" is refreshing.
Pairing him with someone unpredictable in Mark Wahlberg was also a wise move. Wahlberg is the Type A of the twosome: angry, impulsive and bordering on wackjob. He operates on one level while Ferrell bounces up and down, occasionally going to his level and sometimes understating it nicely. It's a much more effective co-star than John C. Reilly, who offers too much of the same style as Ferrell, which in "Talladega Nights" and "Step Brothers" caused Ferrell to be the Type A guy.
The two play detectives Gamble and Terry Hoitz, two NYPD desk jockeys who are, of course, totally mismatched. Gamble was promoted from accounting and Hoitz demoted from security. When Hoitz smells a big case surrounding a Bernie Madoff-like investor (Steve Coogan) that might put him back in the action where he feels he belongs, he forces the oblivious Gamble to step in with him.
Fitted with even so much as jazz saxophone transition music, "The Other Guys" is a spoof at heart. Instead of the cheesy explosion that the pair survives in the nick of time, these guys get knocked off their feet and writhe on the ground in pain, with Ferrell shouting about blisters on his hands and the misleading nature of movie explosions. This additional "objective" of needing the film to serve as a spoof forces a bit more creativity out of McKay and Ferrell's writing. The usual improvised shenanigans wouldn't cut it here.
The supporting cast in "Other Guys" is much more cameo-like than in past McKay/Ferrell movies. Rather than get wrapped up in giving other characters adequate screen time, the focus stays on Allen and Terry and their chemistry. Although it undercuts characters such as Eva Mendes as Allen's hot wife and Michael Keaton in a surprising but welcome comedic role as the police captain, it focuses the humor better and doesn't let it get to eye-rolling levels too often, at least as far as dumb characters are concerned.
"The Other Guys" definitely starts out stronger than it finishes. The biggest laughs are at the beginning and fade at the end as happens all too often in comedies that worry too much about resolving an uninteresting plot at the end of the film while also burning out recurring jokes (such as the Toyota Prius that Allen drives having a prominent place in the film).
It's far from a Ferrell/McKay renaissance and it certainly won't leave you clamoring for more twists on the buddy cop comedy, but the two sides find a chemistry together that however brief, refreshes in a year light on good laughs.
~Steven C
Visit my site http://moviemusereviews.com
THIS MOVIE IS A PEACOCK AND YOU GOTTA LET IT FLY
coopdogg745117 November 2020
This comedy is golden! Almost every scene had me cracking up! My friends and I still constantly drop funny quotes from this movie to this day. AHHH ITS SO HILARIOUS! This is Ferrell and Marky Mark at their best! Do not hesitate to turn this one on
"I'm a peacock! Ya gotta let me fly!!"
reddiemurf8110 June 2020
breathlessly funny
cherold16 May 2011
I tend to have mixed feelings about Will Ferrell films. Ferrell is a likable guy and plays likable characters, but often his films feel a little too much like extended Saturday Night Live sketches; even if they're funny, they just don't have that much to them.
But I love The Other Guys. The premise is unexceptional, a mismatched buddy movie about two undistinguished cops who stumble into a big case, but the movie is wildly funny.
One of the things I love about this movie is how everyone plays it straight. Ferrell is almost as low key here as a cop-accountant as he was in Stranger Than Fiction, and while the movie is often extremely silly, no one in it ever gives a hint that they know it (although Ferrell has a few over-the-top moments that have that SNL cartoonish feel to them that I could have done without). Wahlberg doesn't act like he's making a cop movie parody, he acts like he's making a cop movie. There is a certain odd realism in moments where the heroes pull off something clever or dazzling and take a moment to be impressed with themselves.
Mainly though, this movie is just really, really funny. I could not stop laughing.
But I love The Other Guys. The premise is unexceptional, a mismatched buddy movie about two undistinguished cops who stumble into a big case, but the movie is wildly funny.
One of the things I love about this movie is how everyone plays it straight. Ferrell is almost as low key here as a cop-accountant as he was in Stranger Than Fiction, and while the movie is often extremely silly, no one in it ever gives a hint that they know it (although Ferrell has a few over-the-top moments that have that SNL cartoonish feel to them that I could have done without). Wahlberg doesn't act like he's making a cop movie parody, he acts like he's making a cop movie. There is a certain odd realism in moments where the heroes pull off something clever or dazzling and take a moment to be impressed with themselves.
Mainly though, this movie is just really, really funny. I could not stop laughing.
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