Marcus Carcass’s review published on Letterboxd:
Does this deserve 5 stars? Probably not. But movies are entertainment at the end of the day. Sometimes, it’s just about how much you enjoy it.
I’ve been meaning to watch this movie for 3 years now. Streaming services were no luck and somehow I never thought to buy it on DVD. I went to my local record store the other day and upon seeing the DVD on shelf, my heart skipped a beat. I grabbed it immediately going over budget getting this and The Godfather trilogy and I have no regrets.
Onto the actual review, this is just the embodiment of a fun time. Ryan Gosling is one of my favourite actors and he lets out his comedic dynamite in this film. It’s genuinely one of the funniest action comedy performances of all time. I’m a sucker for mystery comedies and this hit the sweet spot. The mystery may a bit predictable and a little confusing at times, but nonetheless keeps you engaged. It’s mix of detective mystery and absurd comedic banter reminds me of the novel Suburban Dicks, minus the racial commentary. Also, the directing and wardrobe is pretty great. Shane Black is highly underrated as a director and writer. It’s a incredibly quotable movie with solid shot composition. We need more buddy cop mysteries Shane, more!
Now, I mentioned that this doesn’t deserve 5 stars. While it’s wildly entertaining, the third act falls apart. The last 15 minutes should’ve been extended as it was evidently rushed with it’s choppy editing and quick ending. The villain was also hyped up for the whole movie but was just an underdeveloped and generic force of violence. That said, I don’t mind that at all consider how the movie is a comedy at the end of the day. It’s meant to make you laugh and the third act isn’t short of it. Movies are meant for enjoyment anyways. They don’t always need to be a provocative statement on the world and it’s great to just have something on to make you feel good.
Side note, Angourie Grace was really great for a child actress. She outdid a lot of the actors in the movie surprisingly and felt on par with a talent like Russel Crowe.
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