Starring: Ryan Gosling, Russell Crowe, Keith David, Matt Bomer, Kim Basinger, Angourie Rice, Margaret Qualley
Directed By: Shane Black
We ignored some pretty good films this summer. The Nice Guys is a nice 70’s throwback, as well as being a solid addition to the buddy cop genre. Except these two aren’t exactly cops, but the formula is still the same. Shane Black, who lived in this genre when he started the Lethal Weapon franchise, is extending his masterclass in delivering buddy cop films.
Ryan Gosling and Russell Crowe are a solid duo together. Holland Marsh (Gosling) is a relatively bad private detective, who after a chance encounter with Jackson Healy (Crowe) is thrown into looking for a missing girl that everyone is looking for. Bad guys everywhere. Also, TONS of nudity. See… the girl was into porn.
It’s a good mystery coupled with some good action and comedy. Gosling is pretty funny, and he should expand his wings more in comedy. Crowe plays the straight man here, but he’s good at it. The supporting cast are all OK. There are even a few twists in the plot to keep you on your toes. Definitely some smart creative decisions.
It’s two hours, and it felt like 2 hours well spent. Definitely rent this film.
FINAL GRADE: A-
