Today’s quick review: The Nice Guys. The death of a Los Angeles porn actress makes unlikely partners of Jackson Healy (Russell Crowe), hired muscle looking to do some good with his life, and Holland March (Ryan Gosling), a private detective trying to raise his teen daughter Holly (Angourie Rice). Healy and March decide to join forces to protect Amelia (Margaret Qualley), a missing girl wrapped up in the case, from the killers who want her dead.
The Nice Guys is a crime comedy set in Los Angeles in 1977. The movie takes a complicated noir setup and drops in two hapless detectives to try to make sense of the situation. The Nice Guys’ sharply written dialogue and excellently matched leads make it a smart and often hilarious comedy, while a robust plot gives it some legs as a mystery. The only real downside is that the dark tinge to its humor won’t be to every viewer’s taste.
The Nice Guys’ biggest draw is its comedy. The film is packed with short exchanges that quickly go off the rails, nearly all of which are creative and expertly timed. Russell Crowe and Ryan Gosling have outstanding chemistry, while Angourie Rice is an unexpected hit as the self-appointed third member of their partnership. The gags are also deeply intertwined with the characters themselves, letting the humor double as character development.
The film’s comedy is backed by a fairly strong noir-style mystery. The case Healy and March find themselves wrapped up in involves murder, mistaken identity, a missing girl, several different factions interested in finding her, and layered revelations about what is actually going on. The moving pieces can be hard to track, but the film does a good job of managing what each character knows and playing on the audience’s expectations.
The main issue that limits The Nice Guys’ appeal is that it skews dark for a buddy comedy. The heroes make genuine mistakes, characters die in violent ways, and in general there are no guarantees that everything will turn out okay. The film still comes down on the side of comedy, but the rules it plays by are closer to a noir than anything else. Sensitive viewers will also want to watch out for a high amount of nudity and swearing.
Watch The Nice Guys when you’re in the mood for a clever comedy with a great pair of leads and a tough but rewarding plot. The movie’s particular blend of dark comedy, gritty mystery, and touching moments won’t resonate with every viewer. But those who like their humor a little skewed will find The Nice Guys to be a hidden gem that’s well worth a watch.
For a crime comedy with a similar tone from the same director, try Kiss Kiss Bang Bang. For a more action-oriented buddy comedy with similar appeal, try The Hitman’s Bodyguard. For a darker tale of criminal misadventure, try Pulp Fiction.
7.4 out of 10 on IMDB. I give it a 7.5 for hilarious comedy, a strong plot, and an excellent pair of leads.