Review of The Nice Guys (2016) by Sebastian K — 07 Aug 2016

"So you're telling me you made a porno where the plot is the point?".

Lots of bee shit in this movie...lots of shit to do with birds as well....HOLY SHIT!

The Nice Guys follows two Private eyes, Jackson Healy (Played by Russel Crowe) and Ryan Gosling (Holland March) who investigate the death of a porn actress. Simple plot right? But the Nice Guys has many layers of fun to be had.

To begin with, Shane Black knows how to interpret the Crime Genre. Little, personal visual appetizers that strengthen our characters as well as adding charismatic charm to the action makes The Nice Guys an absolute blast. From start to finish, there is always a hugely encompassing message on impulsiveness, and by far, The Nice Guys is perfectly suited because it is a very impulsive film. Quick, Witty dialogue from Russell Crowe, Ryan Gosling and Angourie Rice (who plays Holland's daughter, Holly) which can be random, brutal, crude and eagerly charming. Swift and Delightful actions adds a punching threat to our main characters, but not without a robust comeuppance from Crowe. Ryan Gosling's character may be a little dry in terms of motives, but the alcohol absorbing father figure makes amends in the long run, a little puppy dog who finally learns to just be happy. The Mystery surrounding the pornstar can get a little saturated at times sure, but the film brings it back with a flashy, clever '*wink*-*wink*' connotation to ridiculous concepts drawn from the 70s which connotate highly to the tenderness of sexual love. A masseuse for 'free love and peace, man'.

My main issue with 'The Nice Guys' is that it didn't really check in to an overall style. Is it Neo-Noir? Is it a brightly lit orgy? A bit of both, but with the attempt to balance both, the locations chosen can come off as a bit dry and meaningless. Also, Holland March as a character is sometimes a bit of a wet blanket. Not really worth caring for, Jackson Healy has his structural moment, but March is more of a loopy sidekick that he has to take care of. He adds a great strain of excellent humour, and finds his core, but there needed some conversational resolution with Holly to make their relationship come full-circle. It's a small gripe, but it would've improved the final tone. One final problem is that 'Blueface' (Beau Knapp) could've been in the film a bit more, with such a kooky concept you'd think he would add to the final climax. Nope.

The Nice Guys is a blast. A convincing crime movie as well as a comedy, the movie succeeds in strolling through its structure with a lousy, brisk walk. Smirking gleefully at it's throwbacks to 70s culture with entertaining humour and action. I can tell this is going to be a handsomely re-watchable flick, I wanna see Russell Crowe beat up someone with a shotgun whilst watching Ryan Gosling whimper like a baby over a rotting corpse (despite being a P.I) 100 times over. All the more adding a youthful and glittery message that can be connected with the 70s 'free-love' movement, and activism in the 2010's. Great Job Shane Black!

A-.

83/100.