There are certain actors in Hollywood today who movie-goers seem to either adore or abhor; Will Ferrell is most definitely one of those actors. People have either watched Anchorman over a hundred times, or they develop a small facial twitch whenever his name pops up in the credits. Well, history might repeat itself as Ferrell’s latest endeavour, The Other Guys, hits the big screen. The actor once again teams up with director Adam McKay, who’s been at the helm of four of Ferrell’s movies including Anchorman and Stepbrothers.
The plot of their latest collaboration follows two desk detectives in a world of bank jobs, drug busts and super cops, trying to crack a case of their own and become the new heroes. However, all is not lost for anti-Ferrells out there, as there is something to be said for the performance of Mark Wahlberg – a consistently serious actor who, as it turns out, is actually quite funny. Wahlberg certainly strips off the uniform of previous dramatic roles and fits quite comfortably into the character of Detective Terry Hoitz, an up-and-coming policeman who accidently shot a member of the New York Yankees and was confined to a desk job with his new partner: Ferrell’s Allen Gamble.
It’s the classic setup of two partners who initially can’t stand one another, who end up sort of, maybe, growing to possibly like one another; but not before they aggravate the crap out of each other. Between Ferrell’s hilarious dullness, demotion to a wooden gun and inexplicable appeal to attractive women, and Wahlberg’s over the top anger about pretty much everything with his signature line “I’m a peacock Captain – you gotta let me fly!”, there’s definitely enough banter to keep you snickering throughout. But fear not Ferrell-loathers, as Wahlberg isn’t the only perfect cast choice for McKay. A special mention should be made for Michael Keaton’s performance as Captain Mauch, moonlighting at Bed Bath and Beyond and constantly quoting TLC lyrics without realising. Samuel L. Jackson and Dwayne Johnson also make an appearance, but don’t stray particularly far from their comfort zones by playing resident cliché super cops Danson and Highsmith.
Needless to say, there is enough of Will Ferrell’s distinctive stamp on the movie to make fans giggle with glee, but there are also more than enough laughs offered up by Wahlberg and the others to make it more than just another addition to a future Ferrell box set. From the cast, the plot and the previewed taglines, this is one of those reliable comedies where you walk into it fairly confident that you’re going to get some laughs, and it certainly doesn’t disappoint on that front. Expect car chases, motorcycle assassins, and maybe a face-off between a helicopter and a golf club– and don’t be surprised if you see the odd dance-off or two…you heard me.
