Review of The Nice Guys (2016) by Tyler R — 29 Nov 2016

There is something special to be said about Shane Black's ability to balance multiple tones all while telling an engrossing story. The Nice Guys follows a two private detectives as they investigate the murder of a porn star.

There is an effortlessness in the writing, in terms of plotting and characterization, that brings the viewer in to root for the good guys and second guess the clues as the mystery unfolds. And this is elevated even more due to the stellar cast, and the perfect pairing of Ryan Gosling and Russel Crowe.

Shane Black excels in buddy comedies, and this one is no different as the two leads bounce effortlessly off of each other. Another highlight is the setting. Set in the 1970s, Black goes all out, but with restraint.

Whereas some films like Anchorman play up the setting, Black treats it as another character, with respect and love. Overall, this is a fantastic film and one I wish would've done better because this could have been a new generation's Lethal Weapon.