Today’s quick review: The Guard. Gerry Boyle (Brendan Gleeson) is a small town Irish policeman with a good heart and a lax view on protocol. His quiet days are interrupted when a trio of drug smugglers (David Wilmot, Mark Strong, and Liam Cunningham) arrive in the area with a $500 million shipment of cocaine. Together with American FBI agent Wendell Everett (Don Cheadle), Boyle must locate the criminals before their deal is completed.
The Guard is a crime comedy with a good sense of character. The Guard captures the attitude of small town Ireland, as well as the personality of one cop in particular. Brendan Gleeson leads as Gerry Boyle, an unflappable rural cop who is smarter than he looks. Not above a little graft, Boyle is nonetheless a good man and a sympathetic figure. His quirks give the movie its unique personality, and his interactions with Don Cheadle are surprisingly touching.
The Guard is notable for its unusual tone and sense of humor. Packed with Irish sarcasm and understated humor, The Guard walks a fine line between subtle and overt comedy. Like other generally low-stakes comedies, its jokes are more charming than outrageous. But unlike its brethren, The Guard earns some outright laughter thanks to its slight edge and strong characters. A dash of action also helps the movie from feeling too tame, yielding a light but engaging tone.
Watch The Guard if you are interested in a somewhat lighter crime film without breaking into full-blown comedy. The film is worth watching for Brendan Gleeson alone, and a good script, a well-handled tone, and Don Cheadle are added incentives. Skip it if you are looking for a lot of action, over-the-top comedy, or an involved plot.
7.3 out of 10 on IMDB. I give it a 7.0 to 7.5 for good humor and great characters.