The Other Guys (2010)

'Dumb' comedies are supposedly much harder to make then people think. The most successful ones always have some sort of hook that makes them appeal beyond the superficial slapstick comedy that lies on the surface. 'Zoolander' had clever references to pop-culture and great cameos. 'American Pie' manipulated the dreams of American teenagers and used them as a basis for some memorable gags. 'The Other Guys' follows suit by using a variety of genre conventions to provide a surreal version of the traditional 'buddy-cop' movie.

In a similar vein to 'Cop Out' earlier in the year, 'The Other Guys' draws inspiration from popular 70's and 80's pop culture. Movies like 'Lethal Weapon' and television shows such as 'Starsky and Hutch' can be seen echoed throughout the film. In many ways, it feels as if various shots have been lifted straight from one of these older examples: flyover shots of the city are accompanied by moody jazz music and collateral damage is thrown around the screen with reckless abandon.

The actual storyline of the film is merely a framework for the gags to be delivered to the audience. Two underdog policemen try to solve a case despite the interference of the 'higher-ups'. The focus of the film is squarely on the character. Allen Gamble (Will Ferrell), a quiet paper-pusher in the office who avoids any and all action. His partner, Terry Hoitz (Mark Wahlburg) was a promising young detective who fell from grace and resents his partner for his lack of ambition. The reconciliation and growth of these two characters are the crux of the film, with the events in the storyline acting as a catalyst for them to confront their own personal demons. Ferrell and Wahlburg both do well, ensuring that Allen and Terry are as different as possible whilst still remaining compatible with each other. There are many other noteworthy performances: Samuel L. Jackson and Dwayne Johnson do well as the 'action hero cops', whilst Michael Keaton was possibly my favourite as a quirky police captain who moonlights as a manager for 'Bed, Bath and Beyond'. The cast is all experienced and work very well together, which is possibly the most important things for this type of movie.

'The Other Guys' won't win any awards. It is not landmark cinema. However, it isn't supposed to be. It is supposed to be that 'funny police movie' you see with your girlfriend. It is that movie you pick up on DVD when it drops to $20 at JB Hi-Fi. It is that movie that you seem to always watch when it is on TV. And in this, it succeeds.