THE OTHER GUYS
CAROLINE: ‘Tis the season of so-so comedies, what with last week’s Dinner for Schmucks and now The Other Guys with Will Ferrell and Mark Wahlberg.
RYAN: You haven’t even seen Schmucks yet, so how can you call it so-so?
CAROLINE: I’m just going on what you’ve told me, honey.
RYAN: Well, I didn’t get to see Other Guys with you, and I can’t say I’m that torn up about it. Was Will F. as annoying as he always is?
CAROLINE: Actually, no, and it was such a pleasant relief. He’s much more understated in this role. His character is a big accounting dweeb and he doesn’t go overboard for a change. But he still sort of bugs me; he’s such a one-trick pony.
RYAN: And what about Mr. Wahlberg?
CAROLINE: He totally held his own in this genre. I definitely laughed out loud more than I was expecting too. The weak trailer made me lower my expectations, but it’s a funny movie… in parts. But it’s not you-have-to-rush-out-and-see-it-right-now funny.
RYAN: Is Dwayne Johnson in it a lot? You know he intrigues me.
CAROLINE: His role is more of a cameo, along with Samuel L. Jackson. They’re mostly in the first 10 or 15 minutes of the movie, which is freaking hilarious. It’s kind of like a cop movie spoof. That was probably the best part of the whole thing.
RYAN: So you’re saying it starts funny and then gets progressively unfunny?
CAROLINE: [laughs’ Not exactly, but it definitely starts with a bang. It says somewhat funny after that, but only now and then. It’s a decent enough flick, but nothing earth shattering.
RYAN: How was the rest of the cast?
CAROLINE: Eva Mendes is gorgeous as always, and Steve Coogan, one of our favorite comedic Brits, has a decent sized role. Anne Heche even has a little cameo. She looks fabulous.
RYAN: Ooh, I’m so happy she’s back on the big screen!
CAROLINE: The plot is a little thin and there were some holes. Basically they just wanted to make a cop comedy but they had to throw in some corporate corruption to give the cops something to do. But given that it’s from the same writer as last year’s horrendous Land of the Lost, it could have been really bad – and it wasn’t. And I find Mark Wahlberg oddly attractive despite his shortness.
RYAN: I can see that.
CAROLINE: Oh, and look for a cameo from Brooke Shields. Her husband is one of the screenwriters.
— BOTTOM LINE —
CAROLINE: It’s a funny movie, and it’s a pleasure to see Will Ferrell not overdoing it for a change. It did make me laugh more than I expected to, but it’s not as funny as some recent August releases like Tropic Thunder. You can definitely wait to rent it or catch it on cable.
— RATING —
