The Nice Guys
Starring: Russell Crowe, Ryan Gosling, Angourie Rice
THE incomparable Shane Black and Joel Silver combination – who brought us Lethal Weapon – saddles up for this quasi-cop buddy comedy mystery.
But there are some major differences … less gunplay and more humour, for a start.
Ryan Gosling plays a dullard private investigator with a flair for his craft, while Rusty is a hired gun who’ll punch anyone for money (talk about your method acting).
After some initial fisticuffs, they form a crack investigative team to investigate aspects of the 1970s adult film industry in California.
Some would say the ’70s setting makes the film: I’d argue that it hampers it.
But clearly, this film is no Lethal Weapon 28.
Most of the film centres on the interplay between the two mismatched buddies, and for the most part it works pretty well.
Special mention to young Aussie actress Angourie Rice, who starred in brilliant Australian end of the world flick, These Final Hours. She’s great as Gosling’s daughter.
There’s a nagging feeling this film is not quite what it should or could have been, but to watch two ‘artistes’ Crowe and Gosling slumming it is well worth the price of admission.
– Jason Beck
