Writer: Lai Swee Wei

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Watch this if you liked: “Step Brothers”, “Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy”, “Cop Out”

"The Other Guys", director Adam McKay and Will Ferrell's fourth feature film collaboration after "Step Brothers", "Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby" and "Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy", sadly puts laughter in the backseat as this buddy cop flick takes on a rather complicated white-collar crime story that leaves less space for unruly jokes.

While NYPD star cops Christopher Danson and P.K. Highsmith (cameos by Dwayne Johnson and Samuel L. Jackson, respectively) hunts down the baddies, someone has to do all the file reports and grunt worthy desk jobs, which fatefully falls onto 'the other guys' - detectives Allen Gamble (Will Ferrell) and Terry Hoitz (Mark Wahlberg). Hoitz was close to his big break as a detective before a retarded misfortune befalls him and he finds himself demoted and partnered with the docile police accountant Gamble.

The combination of these two mismatched cops, hot-headed Hoitz's thirst for action and Gamble's reluctance to take risks, makes the two an interesting pair as they banter back and forth with clever humour like the random lion versus the tuna discussion and the 'quiet fight'. No doubt, it's the chemistry between Ferrell and Wahlberg that makes it all work. The comedy also progresses as Hoitz finds out that there is more to his wooden gun-wielding partner Gamble than meets the eye, beginning with his impossibly hot wife Sheila (Eva Mendes). At most times, the silly humour is a hit-and-miss, but when it works it can be real funny like Gamble's baffling appeal to women and Sheila's mum delivering explicit sex talk.

The story however loses its appeal during a slightly slow second half and a cluttered climax when it begins to unravel an apparent fraud case involving bigwig investor David Ershon (Steve Coogan). The unnecessarily complicated evil plot had bogged down the film tremendously, reducing the film's charismatic appeal. Nevertheless, the action sequences are praiseworthy as director Adam McKay sends the characters through explosions, chases and even an epic Mexican standoff.

Overall, "The Other Guys" pretty much uses the bulk of its ammo in the first half, and slowly loses its comedic appeal, leaving it to be a rather forgettable comedy.

Cinema Online, 04 October 2010