Review of The Nice Guys (2016) by Patrick L — 29 Jan 2017

"Shane Black's "The Nice Guys" maybe sleazy and violent but it benefits from a sharp script and two great actors who work well together.".

DVD Movie Review: The Nice Guys.

Date Viewed: August 11 2016.

Directed By Shane Black (Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang and Iron Man 3).

Written By Shane Black and Anthony Bagarozzi.

Starring: Russell Crowe, Ryan Gosling, Angourie Rice, Kim Basinger, Matt Bomer, Margaret Qualley, Yaya DaCosta, Keith David, Beau Knapp, Lois Smith, Murielle Telio, Daisy Tahan, Jack Kilmer and Ty Simpkins.

This film maybe sleazy and violent but it really helps if you have a sharp script and two great actors who work well together. "The Nice Guys" gets the job done thanks to co-writer and director Shane Black. Black has a history with violent buddy movies, he wrote the scripts for "Lethal Weapon", "The Last Boy Scout", "The Long Kiss Goodnight" and "Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang" for which he made his directorial debut. The movie is set in the mid-1970s and Black not only gets the period details right, he also gets the pulpy tone in this L.A. world right as well.

Russell Crowe and Ryan Gosling have been great in other movies before but it's finally time for them to show off their comedic chops. Okay, Gosling was in "Crazy, Stupid, Love" and he had comedic bits in last year's "The Big Short" but he really gets to show the funnier side of himself as he plays a private eye who's down-on-his-luck. As for Crowe who's sort of starring in a sequel to "L.A. Confidential", he brings his usual bad-ass persona in comedic fashion and it's great. I wish he had roles like this.

What's this movie about? As I mentioned earlier, "The Nice Guys" is set in the mid-70s where we start off with a boy (Ty Simpkins) who witnesses the death of a fading porn star named Misty Mountains. Investigating the case is private eye, Holland March (Gosling) who learns that a missing girl maybe connected to the porn star's murder. Unfortunately, he gets a knock on his door when tough enforcer, Jackson Healy (Crowe) shows up and breaks one of March's arms.

Despite the bone-breaking and their conflict of interest, they must work together to find the missing girl who turns out to be the daughter of Justice Department official, Judith Kutner (Kim Basinger, who's having an "L.A. Confidential" reunion of sorts with Crowe). March also has a pre-teen daughter, Holly March (Angourie Rice) who has a habit of showing up on her father's assignments.

While searching for clues and trying to find the missing girl, March and Healy of course bump into some gangsters, a hitman named John Boy (Matt Bomer) and even double-crossers as the case reaches into the heights of political power.

This chewy premise is from original but there's a lot to like in "The Nice Guys". It has everything from lavishing cinematography, colorful costumes, good-looking cars and two terrifically funny performances. It's not as good Black's "Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang" but "The Nice Guys" has the same irresistible chemistry and comedic sight-gags as "Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang".

Crowe and Gosling are amazing together and "The Nice Guys" is a nice comfortable viewing after the many gazillion-dollar blockbusters we've had this summer.