Review of The Guard (2011) by Rick B — 18 Feb 2012

Brendan Gleeson's Sergeant Gerry Boyle is politically incorrect, cocksure, matter-of-fact, and keen to partake in liquor and hookers. More succinctly, he's Irish. Boyle can't be bothered with police work anymore, and he and his new partner have just been saddled with a possible serial murderer -- or drug trafficker. In steps Don Cheadle as FBI agent Wendell Everett, unfortunately not from the Behavioral Sciences Unit. Together, they must track down a half a billion dollars in drugs.

We've seen the idea of "The Guard" many times. It's the typical fish-out-of-water comedy, which the movie itself loves to poke fun at.. What sets it apart is that Gleeson and Cheedle manage to bring the cultural misunderstandings and the very evident differences in professional work ethic to an elevated state.

Boyle takes days off in the middle of once-in-a-lifetime cases, drinks on the job, and has no qualms about admitting to illegal activities. He does cocaine and travels to Dublin to be double-teamed by prostitutes. He has no interest in seeing your baby pictures. Everett wonders out loud whether Boyle is an idiot or a genius.

Have no fear, "The Guard" is nigh genius. Especially Gleeson, who is pitch-perfect in this role. Cheedle is good if not great, too. The criminals, led by Liam Cunningham, are gritty, witty, and just the right amount of stupid. There is plenty of humor, weight, gunplay, and fun. Yes, "The Guard" travels the familiar "odd-couple forced to work together for the greater good" road. But, it elevates the genre early and often, climbing to a satisfying and thoroughly enjoyable conclusion.