The Nice Guys stars Russell Crowe and Ryan Gosling in a retro buddy cop flick that takes place in Los Angeles during the early '70's. Crowe plays a hardened "enforcer for hire" if you will, while Gosling portrays a talented, yet substance abusing private detective. The two cross paths and become involved in an elaborate crime intertwining pornography, the auto industry and pollution in a whirling and whimsical ride that benefits greatly from fantastic chemistry between the two leads. Crowe's character, Jackson Healy, and Gosling's, Holland March, are an odd couple who meet on unusual circumstances. The duo, joined by March's charming daughter Holly, played by Angourie Rice, set out to solve a string of murders in a thrilling and hilarious film that is easily one of the best of the year.
One of the reasons why The Nice Guys was so delightful was the undeniable chemistry between Ryan Gosling and Russell Crowe. The pairing was odd and lended to some great comedic bits, and their respective performances elevate the film both dramatically and comedically. The magnetic chemistry of the stars, paired with an original and refreshing script make this movie awesome. The Nice Guys has a groovy atmosphere, a lush and retro feel that is unique in today's franchise based CGI film economy. The throwback nature of its story is also nice to see, as its been a really long time since the last good buddy cop comedy...(even though none of the characters in this film are actually cops). It was great to see Russell Crowe in a good movie again, as it has been a while... Films like A Winter's Tale or Noah, even his miscast role in Les Miserables have perhaps tarnished his reputation just a little bit, but he is in familiar territory here and back in his character comfort zone. Gosling continues to be one of the better actors in the business and his knack for picking great roles has never been stronger. Despite great acting and writing, and some great cinematography as well, The Nice Guys isn't perfect. While the script has slick dialogue and the plot is fun in principle, it is a bit narratively flawed. There are some holes in the script and some confusing plot points that become progressively more noticeable as the film wears on. Rice's performance as Holly is charming, as her role could have been a distraction, it actually added a lot to the movie. Usually a child character in her position could be viewed as dead weight, or a damsel in distress, but she proved to be very resourceful, and at times, better than her dad at his job.
Crowe and Gosling play off of each other masterfully, and their contagious chemistry is The Nice Guys' biggest strength. Despite a convoluted plot, this film excels due to a fresh and whimsically fun script that engages the viewer in a fun and chaotic world.
A