The Other Guys (Two-Disc Unrated Other Edition Blu-ray/DVD Combo)

I don't think I'm saying anything terribly controversial or original when I state that Will Farrell movies tend to be a mixed bag. His most beloved star vehicles TALLEDEGA NIGHTS and ANCHORMAN, feature many truly hilarious moments, but also moments that just seem a bit weird and random. Farrell and his friend/co-writer/director Adam McKay just can't seem to stop taking diversions that are little more than whims. Sometimes these random moments have a life and excitement of their own (Ron Burgundy playing the flute in a restaurant), others are simply head-scratchers.It's a measure of how expensive THE OTHER GUYS must have been to make when I thought of how few of these quirky diversions Farrell takes. McKay & Co. have made a more straightforward comedy, one relying heavily on expensive action sequences...and thus must have felt a bit more constrained to sticking with a linear plot and not a series of sketches held together with a theme.But it's also a measure of Farrell's talent that the film still feels fresh and offbeat. Farrell plays a police detective who is really just an accountant with a badge and gun. He works his desk and hums while typing on his keyboard. He loves to see others running to where the action is...and loves staying safely at his desk. He'd probably be happy doing this his entire career, except that he's also got a VERY reluctant partner (Mark Wahlberg)...a once up-and-coming hotshot cop who accidentally put a bullet into Derek Jeter, costing the Yankees a World Series. Wahlberg urgently wants to get back on the streets...and when NYPD loses two of its most famous cops (Samuel L. Jackson and Dwayne Johnson)...his desperate need reaches a boiling point, and he DRAGS Farrell out into the field. Unfortunately, Farrell's vehicle is a Prius, and it's very non-threatening profile generates some pretty funny wisecracks. ("I literally feel like I'm riding inside a vagina," says Wahlberg.)It is very amusing to see Wahlberg making fun of his usual intensity. Imagine his character in THE DEPARTED almost totally neutered by a career blunder. He's got good timing, and creates genuine chemistry with Farrell. Eva Mendes is welcome as Farrell's wife...she's WAY too hot to be married to Farrell, yet Farrell's character seems to draw hot women to him. It's so non-sensical as to be quite funny...particularly in the way it perplexes Wahlberg. Mendes, in many films, consistently shows flashes of having some nice comic ability, but has yet to be truly challenged. THE OTHER GUYS doesn't challenge her either...her character is more of a device than a real person.There are other nice supporting turns. Steve Coogan is always nice to see. Michael Keaton has a thankless role as the captain...but still gets off a few nice one-liners. Jackson & Johnson are hilarious (and their early scenes spoofing car chases and the mayhem they cause are pretty impressive). I must say, though, that I'd gladly never see Rob Riggle in a film again. Here and in THE HANGOVER, he plays obnoxious, toxic cops to virtually no comic effect. He's loud and amused with himself.But the film belongs to Farrell. He once again brings his character who is outwardly calm but clearly seething with repressed emotions. But Farrell has dug just a little bit deeper here. He's tried to bring logic to his character, rather than simply serving comic needs. The turmoil he is roiling with seems genuine. I gather from interviews and such that Farrell is a fairly happy family man. But he also encapsulates what a lot of people feel, I think..the feeling of being trapped in a life that isn't entirely what one imagined when setting out in the world. He carries an inchoate rage. In Farrell's hands, this is mined for humor...but you can also imagine how quickly it could be mined for drama. He's a master at teetering between out-of-control and dangerously out-of-control.There are a couple of Farrell & McKay's patented "random" moments. While drinking with Wahlberg in an Irish pub, Farrell frequently stops mid-conversation to sing verses in sad Irish songs while accompanied by an older chorus of Irish men. It's odd but somehow charming. But the film has many sustained jokes that continue to pay off. Coogan (as a Wall Street bad-guy) keeps putting off tough questioning by offering Farrell & Wahlberg tickets to Broadway shows. They accept and then beat themselves up later when they realize they've been bribed.I laughed a lot. That's ultimately they key to my recommendation. But I certainly appreciate the fact that the filmmakers realized they had a good concept and gave it some meat. Farrell was allowed to create a fully realized comic creation, and was given a stellar supporting cast. Wahlberg was probably the best possible choice to play the partner...and although I hope it doesn't happen I can certainly envision a sequel.

I absolutely love Ferrell and Wahlberg together..they are amazingly hilarious! This movie will get me out of a bad mood instantly❤️

Good lessons

Best movie ever!

Very funny movie. They are considered the worthless team on the force. Until the supercops are dead and there looking for a new supercop team.

My brother hacked my account and binged watched it so I guess he liked it.

This was basically slapstick with a point; loved it. Honestly, I kept thinking, "WHO wrote this SCRIPT!?" and continued to die laughing. Like, the first 15 minutes of Anchorman 2 was gut-crampingly funny, but this was hilarious and clever all the way through. Also was fun watching the cast obviously have a good time with this one. Whoever reviewed this movie and gave a 3 or less star rating clearly did not "get" the jokes. That's the only reason. Or they don't like comedy, then that's their own dang fault for watching. :)

Funny movie

Very funny buddy buddy film. Mark Wahlberg shows a real flair for comedy as the stressed out policeman ,aching to do some real police work.He is partnered with Will Ferrel who is a nerdy desk bound cop with a unusual ability to attract extremely hot young women and still be unaware that he has the power to do so-which drives Wahlberg crazy.Nice performance from Michael Keaton, reminding the viewer that he has a great comedy talent.Add Samuel L Jackson and 'The Rock' Johnson into the mix ,for a outrageously funny male chauvinistic performance and you can't go wrong with this truly entertaining film

its starts of funny but later in the movies get slightly boring and predictable

I wanted to have it.Smart jokes and ads, nice action. The movie also gives some info about some financial scandals.

Bought as gift

Love it it is funny