This has been a surprisingly strong summer for comedies, with the equally impressive crowd-pleasers Get Him to the Greek and Dinner for Schmucks generating strong revenue and positive critical reception. Prior to its release, I’ll admit that I was initially hesitant to see The Other Guys, solely because I thought that Will Ferrell had been losing steam recently, especially since his last summer film, the disastrous Land of the Lost, led many critics to declare him the most overpaid actor in Hollywood. Don’t get me wrong, I am a big fan of Will Ferrell’s iconic comedy films, but I was worried that he may have passed his prime. Luckily, The Other Guys was another collaboration between Will Ferrell and writer/director Adam McKay, whose accomplishments in comedy mirror Disney/Pixar’s accomplishments in animation. With the reputation of its creative team and the backing of an aggressive marketing campaign, The Other Guys had all the makings of a summer blockbuster; add Mark Wahlberg, Eva Mendes, Samuel L. Jackson, and Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson to the mix, and The Other Guys turns into an absolute must-see.
In retrospect, The Other Guys is one of Will Ferrell’s more unique comedic offerings, as many times it seems like the film had trouble deciphering whether it wanted to be a serious cop film or a complete spoof. Granted, The Other Guys more than delivers on comedy, with numerous scenes that you will be quoting for years, but the story switches between complex and simple or between serious and ridiculous one too many times for audiences to completely ignore the contradiction. Will Ferrell’s most recent character may not have the same flair as a scotch-drinking news anchor or an eccentric racecar driver who trains with a live cougar, but Ferrell has still more than proven his comedic talent and successfully navigated past some recent failures. Mark Wahlberg also demonstrates an impressive capability for humor, helping Ferrell create a comedic team that could give Steve Carell and Paul Rudd a run for their money. The Other Guys is definitely not Will Ferrell’s best comedy and has some significant weak points, but in the end, the high level of comedy and enjoyable performances generates the kind of appeal that defines a successful summer comedy.
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Overall Recommendation: High
