Adam McKay and Will Ferrell approach comedy by throwing various gags at the audience and hope more of them work than not. Their latest collaboration, The Other Guys, is a cop movie spoof that delivers crude jokes at a rapid-fire pace in a lighthearted tone. This is what the actor’s fans expect. However the inspired casting of Mark Wahlberg opposite Ferrell, performers who couldn’t be more different, is what elevates this effort.
Relegated to desk duty, Terry (Wahlberg) resents working in the shadow of two superstar cops (Samuel L. Jackson and Dwayne Johnson). He’s even more upset being saddled with Allen Gamble (Ferrell), a desk jockey who loves paperwork and would rather sit in the office all day than answer a call. However, a case involving construction permits leads them to David Ershon (Steve Coogan), a business tycoon involved in a corrupt scheme to hide his debts.
The resistance they meet pursuing this case, especially from their police chief (Michael Keaton) produces many of the film’s biggest laughs, as do Wahlberg’s slow burns. He’s the straight man to Ferrell’s doofus and the chemistry between them proves to be comedic gold. Among the highlights are a running gag involving the gorgeous Eva Mendes as Ferrell’s wife, a fight at a funeral in which the participants whisper so as not to disturb the service and the constant jokes about Gamble’s Honda Prius.
Obviously, this is not for all tastes, but McKay’s and Ferrell’s fans will not be disappointed. Guys is sharper than their previous efforts, while the supporting cast bolsters the film when it’s on the verge of sagging. Be sure to sit through the end credits and listen to “Pimps Don’t Cry,” a lush ‘70s style R & B groove by McKay and Ferrell that, if there’s any comic justice in the world, will be nominated for a “Best Original Song” Oscar.
Contact Chuck Koplinski at ckoplinski@usd116.org.
