Written by: Kevin Berge
If they're not that nice, what is this movie actually about? (Image Courtesy of: youtube.com)
Quick Take: The Nice Guys follows the buddy cop movie tropes to the letter but managed to outshine many of its predecessors thanks to a strong cast and hilarious script. The movie feels a bit stuck in the past and convoluted but does not suffer too much for it.
***This is a review for a movie released in 2016. Thus, the reader is not expected to have seen the film already. This is a spoiler-free review that will only make a few allusions to events.***
A new addition to the buddy cop genre is a time honored tradition in the film industry these days. The Nice Guys is the latest film to bring together two odd characters to become friends in an attempt to solve a mystery.
However, this isn't just any other buddy cop movie. It is a Shane Black buddy cop film, the man who brought us both Lethal Weapon and Kiss Kiss Bang Bang. If anyone knows this genre, it is Black, and he's hit the nail on the head again.
The Nice Guys pairs up Ryan Gosling (Drive) and Russell Crowe (Gladiator) as mediocre detective Holland March and vicious private eye Jackson Healy who prove to instantly have compelling chemistry together.
Gosling is the best part of the film, playing the slapstick role without relying on conventions. The fact that Gosling has never played this type of role only emphasizes more how good he is. Crowe plays the straight man to Gosling's antics perfectly, doing the only real heavy-lifting dramatically if only briefly.
They are both fighting hard not to outshone by newcomer Angourie Rice (Walking with Dinosaurs) who is a revelation as the young daughter of March and also the smartest of the trio. Together, these three are the heart and soul that carry a movie with a hilarious script but a frustratingly convoluted and cluttered plot.
A new addition to the buddy cop genre is a time honored tradition in the film industry these days. The Nice Guys is the latest film to bring together two odd characters to become friends in an attempt to solve a mystery.
However, this isn't just any other buddy cop movie. It is a Shane Black buddy cop film, the man who brought us both Lethal Weapon and Kiss Kiss Bang Bang. If anyone knows this genre, it is Black, and he's hit the nail on the head again.
The Nice Guys pairs up Ryan Gosling (Drive) and Russell Crowe (Gladiator) as mediocre detective Holland March and vicious private eye Jackson Healy who prove to instantly have compelling chemistry together.
Gosling is the best part of the film, playing the slapstick role without relying on conventions. The fact that Gosling has never played this type of role only emphasizes more how good he is. Crowe plays the straight man to Gosling's antics perfectly, doing the only real heavy-lifting dramatically if only briefly.
They are both fighting hard not to outshone by newcomer Angourie Rice (Walking with Dinosaurs) who is a revelation as the young daughter of March and also the smartest of the trio. Together, these three are the heart and soul that carry a movie with a hilarious script but a frustratingly convoluted and cluttered plot.
If Healy is the muscle and March's daughter is the brains, what does that make March? The pretty one? (Image Courtesy of: filmschoolrejects.com)
The writing in this movie is equally brilliant and terrible as it is broken down. On one hand, the dialogue is sensational and hilarious, moving with every shot. On the other, the story/plot development is an absolute mess.
Black should take some blame for that, but he is doing so much good here with the dialogue and the directing that it can be forgiven. On the directing side, this film is quite remarkably well choreographed with its use of set pieces and physical gags as well as straight action memorable.
If anything, this is a movie that has a solid concept but lacks strict execution. These characters would be hilarious anywhere. This dialogue and choreography could be placed in a better plot. They all just feel like a rough draft for a brilliant idea.
This makes it easy to desire a sequel as the movie does occasionally hint at. This trio deserve to go on more adventures and hopefully find some more compelling villains. For as talented as he is, Matt Bomer (White Collar) is so wasted here that might as well have not been in the film at all.
Honestly, I could watch the Marches and Healy go around solving petty crime cases for hours without placing them in a complete plot, so this movie was more than a success. As someone who does not gravitate to comedy too often, I was rolling as this film progressed.
Even as I could not now tell you what exactly happened in the film, I can recall so many great scenes. That is the real testament to The Nice Guys' strength. This is a movie about moments rather than plot. Sure, it could have a better story, but you won't regret the time spent watching it without one.
Black should take some blame for that, but he is doing so much good here with the dialogue and the directing that it can be forgiven. On the directing side, this film is quite remarkably well choreographed with its use of set pieces and physical gags as well as straight action memorable.
If anything, this is a movie that has a solid concept but lacks strict execution. These characters would be hilarious anywhere. This dialogue and choreography could be placed in a better plot. They all just feel like a rough draft for a brilliant idea.
This makes it easy to desire a sequel as the movie does occasionally hint at. This trio deserve to go on more adventures and hopefully find some more compelling villains. For as talented as he is, Matt Bomer (White Collar) is so wasted here that might as well have not been in the film at all.
Honestly, I could watch the Marches and Healy go around solving petty crime cases for hours without placing them in a complete plot, so this movie was more than a success. As someone who does not gravitate to comedy too often, I was rolling as this film progressed.
Even as I could not now tell you what exactly happened in the film, I can recall so many great scenes. That is the real testament to The Nice Guys' strength. This is a movie about moments rather than plot. Sure, it could have a better story, but you won't regret the time spent watching it without one.