ON THE OTHER HAND, IT WAS GREAT SEEING MICHAEL KEATON WORKING AGAIN: But beyond that, Will Ferrell and Mark Wahlberg's The Other Guys didn't do a lot for me. Like Kevin Smith's Cop Out, Adam McKay's film is so tethered to the action movie tropes which it's riffing on as to not quite be anarchic and silly enough as the film approaches its conclusion.
Some elements worked -- Samuel L. Jackson and Dwayne "I No Longer Have A Nickname" Johnson as the more aggressive officers, the existence of Steve Coogan**, everything involving the gator. But I think about Will Ferrell at his best in film -- Ron Burgundy, Mugatu, Bob Woodward, Frank the Tank and Buddy the Elf -- and there's nothing in The Other Guys which quite rises to those inspired levels of considered silliness. It's not a "don't see," but just "don't get your hopes up."
**It's been a long time since I've mentioned this, but, seriously? Rent 24 Hour Party People. Brilliant filmmaking, great story, tremendous performance by Coogan.
I think what's interesting is that The Other Guys forces Ferrell not to play the male with (at least he thinks he has) swagger that's been his stock in trade for most of his films. Because of the character's backstory and plotting, that character does emerge (and is burbling beneath the surface for much of the film), but it's interesting to see him do something different. And Marky Mark has figured out that the best way for him to be funny is to play it completely straight.
ReplyDeleteOh, between The Departed and Boogie Nights, among other films, it's been clear for awhile.
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Steve Coogan? Tristam Shandy. That is all.
ReplyDeleteAnother oddball thing is either Will Ferrell or Chris Henchy's odd preoccupation with Broadway musicals. "A Chorus Line" played a substantial role in "Land of the Lost," and there's a bit in this one where the characters tout "Jersey Boys" at some length.
ReplyDeleteThe disappointing part of this movie, I thought, was no so much the misuse of talent but the editing. It felt choppy. Certain bits had great timing -- the deployment of the Prius was right on -- but other times, it felt like some piece was missing, or like all of our attention was being diverted for no reason to unfunny, half-baked story lines. Times when the camera could have given Ferrel or Wahlberg more space, it cut away too quickly. The Peacock bit never landed with any humor, in part because it felt like an entire other story was missing from behind it -- it was so out of character for humorless Terry.
ReplyDeleteThe only sustained joke that wasn't in the trailer that made the audience laugh, that I can remember, was the TLC quoting bit that Michael Keaton pulled off perfectly.