Movie Review: The Other Guys

Arguably, one of the funniest movies of the year.. so far and clearly the best surprise I've had since Kick-Ass. Seriously. I could not get enough of this feel good film that was both funny and intriguing. It delivered from start to finish, one just have to take it for what it was.

Yes, The Other Guys was another cop movie pairing ill-matching detectives who learn to buddy up and beat bad guys together. Of course, the odd pairing dynamic threw most of the humor, but the real treat in this movie was the subtle variations in its pursuit of the unexpected. The dry humor was tremendous and the chemistry between Mark Wahlberg and Will Ferrell was unmatched. Who knew?

I personally thought that the palpable chemistry between Ferrell and Wahlberg overshadowed the tired plot point of the movie. Obviously, both of them did an excellent job bringing the comedy from the creative script to the screen.

I mean, Will Ferrell was a little toned down compared to his usual movies but he still had his usual moments - screaming like a girl, random singing, quirky one liners and whatnot. Mark Wahlberg, however, stole the show with his angry lines, his bitter delivery and his ridiculously hilarious outbursts. Together, they just made a hysterical - and unlikely - comic duo. The supporting cast also did an amazing job, especially Michael Keaton, Eva Mendes and Samuel L. Jackson - Dwayne Johnson's cameos. Ha!

Technically, the movie also didn't disappoint. The script was neatly written, the direction was good, and the pacing was just about right. The movie also staged some great action sequences and the slow motion bar scene displayed most definitely the coolest slow motion effects since Zombieland - it blew me away.

Now, one very minor quibble I had with this film was that it lost steam towards the end, preventing them from becoming an eternal comedic classic. Really. The first half was absolutely spectacular and downright comical, but the second half just never had a chance to duplicate the magic of the former.

But, in a year of mediocre - non-animated - comedies, this movie I think delivered the goods. From the hilarious dialogue between Ferrell and Wahlberg, to the hysterical recurring things throughout the story, such as peacocks, TLC and hot girls, I think this movie is worth watching.

 RATING: 8/10