RATING:*** (3 stars)
When New York City's two famous police action heroes die in the line of duty, it falls upon the rank-and-file, the other guys, to step up to the plate.
The latest film starring Will Ferrell is in a similar comedic vein, while at the same time paying homage to the fact that it is the little guys on the police force that are usually responsible for keeping us safe instead of the ones we here about all the time on TV. Also starring Mark Wahlberg, Michael Keaton, and Steve Coogan, The Other Guys is sure to make you laugh more than once--particularly if you are old enough to have heard of a musical group from the 1990's that sang about waterfalls and scrubs.
Perhaps what really pulls down this film is the pacing. While there is no shortage of both smart and outrageous humor, the film has a number of spots where it just really seems to drag on and on. In the long run this is incredibly counter-productive because then you're waiting on the next big joke to bring you back into the action. In all honesty, some of the characters (notably Terry Hoitz) are very static and do not contribute all that much to either the story or the jokes to be particularly noteworthy.
The Other Guys is a fun summer comedy that will make you laugh at least a few times, but for some people it probably is not a film that you will choose to see in the theaters. Definitely one to look for in a couple months when it hits DVD.
Trailer
