Rating:  

Gary Sanchez Productions, Mosaic, and Columbia Pictures.

Written by: Adam McKay and Chris Hinchy.

Will Ferrell and Adam McKay have teamed together numerous times through the years and have given us screen characters such as Ron Burgundy (Anchorman), Ricky Bobby (Talladega Nights), and Brennan Huff (Step Brothers), all played by Ferrell and co-written by Ferrell and McKay. Unfortunately, in some instances, the films have not been as funny as their characters, but with their latest collaboration, “The Other Guys”, Ferrell and McKay have thrown enough at the wall here to make this movie really stick.

Ferrell stars as Allen Gamble, a forensic accountant turned police officer, who loves being a police officer because of all of the paperwork and administrative things he can do for the precinct. He sits across from Terry Hoitz, a demoted field officer, now sharing desk time with Gamble. Demoted for the mistaken shooting of New York Yankees superstar, Derek Jeter (yeah, he’s in this…), Hoitz is frustrated and despises working alongside Gamble. Played by Mark Wahlberg, exhibiting tremendous comedic timing and skill, Hoitz and Gamble are oil to each other’s water. Hoitz seethes at the rock star status and treatment of fellow Officers Danson and Highsmith (Dwayne Johnson and Samuel L. Jackson, respectively), who live the stereotypical TV and movie cop life – racing from call to call, recklessly firing their weapons, wrecking cars, blowing things up, risking their lives in daring and unnecessary situations…and soaking in cheers and adulation from the community, the media, and their fellow officers.

When a sudden and memorably hilarious…um…”incident” involving Danson and Highsmith leave their “top cop” status in the precinct available for the taking, Hoitz sees an opportunity to reclaim past glory and does everything in his power to convince the unfortunately named Gamble to step up and seize the moment.

The film’s subplot revolves around a Madoff-esque tycoon, David Ershon, (Steve Coogan) who is buried in over his head to debts to virtually every international entity imaginable. He has created massive problems for a shadowy and omnipresent global company led by Pamela Boardman (Anne Heche). Ershon has concocted an epic plan to steal money from the New York State lottery commission and Gamble and Hoitz stumble onto the plan in a bizarre connection to improper scaffolding blueprints. Gamble is understandably ecstatic at the find while Hoitz just wants to bust some heads.

As you watch “The Other Guys”, you begin to realize that Adam McKay has co-written with Chris Hinchy one of the more spot on satires of this overblown and lazy film genre. Ferrell plays the straight man to the entire precinct and he is as funny as ever here, taking the brunt of everyone’s sarcasm and disrespect. He just keeps smiling and taking it and becomes rather endearing in playing Gamble. Mark Wahlberg may have found another chapter in his career. Opposite Ferrell, his comedic timing is flat out fantastic. I could watch these two bicker and argue and fight for hours. One argument regarding the toughness of a lion and a tuna is already being heralded, and rightfully so, as one of the funniest moments in recent years. I would wholeheartedly concur.

Michael Keaton (!) jumps all in playing the embattled precinct captain, who has taken a second job at Bed, Bath & Beyond to help put his son through college. Keaton is obviously having a ball in the role and a running gag of his crowbarring in of a particular outdated pop culture reference is funny each and every time. As a matter of fact, “The Other Guys” soars on several running gags, which are cleverly spiked in throughout.

This is a film you laugh with and laugh about after its final credits roll on by (and more on those credits in a moment). Dwayne Johnson and Samuel L. Jackson are memorable in their extended cameo and when Eva Mendes is revealed as Will Ferrell’s reportedly sloven and haggard wife, you can add yet another layer of comedy between the two lead actors.

“The Other Guys” is an uproarious comedy which sees the talented Will Ferrell and engaging Mark Wahlberg return to the top of their respective games. Never taking itself seriously, gleefully mocking and satirizing the buddy-cop action movie in fresh and inventive ways, and throwing anything it can at the proverbial wall, this is a memorable and quotable comedy that delivers far and above any expectations that I, or you, may have heading in.

**SPOILER ALERT (of End Credits)**

And about those end credits. I will take a moment and state that you should stay and keep watching the credits for one of the most odd and bewildering closing sequences I can ever remember. After watching 100 or so minutes of wild comedy and action, Adam McKay offers a mini civics lesson on corporate corruption and scandal with a series of animated title cards clad in facts, graphs, and flow charts. The information is important, but its appearance in this regard is confounding. Check it out and you tell me.

Should I See It?

YES

You like to laugh and laugh a lot. Consistently funny from start to finish, this is a tremendously entertaining film.

The opening scenes with Dwayne Johnson and Samuel L. Jackson are flawless in their satire, humor, and unforgettable conclusion.

Maybe by seeing it you can explain those end credits. Seriously.

This is a really strong return to form for Ferrell and his collaborator Adam McKay. Arguably their best film together.

NO

Your ship has sailed on Will Ferrell movies, or you’ve grown tired of him. Even with him scaling way back and playing the straight guy, it is still Will Ferrell.

On its face, this appears to be a good-guy/bad guy cop film with comedic elements. You may feel that this in and of itself is a formulaic idea and as a result have no interest.

As with most PG-13 comedies, this pushes boundaries for what may be acceptable for 13 year old kids. If you allow your younger kids to watch PG-13 films, be warned that you may be explaining things you may not have anticipated explaining.