Dir. Shane Black (trailer)
The Nice Guys has quickly become one of my favorite go-to films that never fails to make me laugh or discover something I hadn't previously noticed. Written and directed by Shane Black, of Lethal Weapon fame, this film is a joy-ride through detective films of the 1970s. Taking place in Los Angeles, The Nice Guys focuses on two men, one a loser detective that takes easy cases from old ladies, and the other a private investigator who uses his fists to to make point. They bumble and argue their way through a case that threatens to bring down the "Big 3" car companies while creating a realistic depiction of the smoggy summertime in LA.
Hands down, the best part of the film are the comedic performances from Ryan Gosling and Russell Crowe. Gosling plays Holland March, an alcoholic, yet caring single father who often takes easily solvable cases from rich old ladies to make money. Gosling has often has the wittiest dialog, which may take several viewings to fully catch all the jokes. On the other hand, Crowe plays Jackson Healy, a hardened private investigator who prides himself on his work. The pairing of the two characters creates a fresh spin on the "buddy cop" genre of films, as the actors have a natural connection between them.
I recommend this film to fans of detective films and comedies, as The Nice Guys handles both genres perfectly.
Rating: ★★★★★
Recommended for fans of: comedies, Kiss Kiss Bang Bang (2005), Stuber (2019), The Other Guys (2010), action/adventure
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