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| Denzel Washington & Mark Wahlberg (r) star in 2 Guns |
2 Guns, 2 Guys: My Kind of People
"You ever heard the saying 'never rob a bank across from a diner that has the best donuts in three counties'?" It sounds like pretty sage advice (after all, we're talking three counties!) but how do you say no to the likes of Denzel Washington and Mark Wahlberg, the latest buddy cop duo to hit the big screen? I actually had some reservations about Baltasar Kormákur's 2 Guns (the trailer doesn't do the film justice) but a combination of action, charisma, comedy and Paula Patton (OMG, Paula Patton!) puts any doubts to rest... revealing a solid, star-studded summer blockbuster in its place.
IMDb Plot: A DEA agent and a naval intelligence officer find themselves on the run after a botched attempt to infiltrate a drug cartel. While fleeing, they learn the secret of their shaky alliance: Neither knew that the other was an undercover agent.
What’s Best: 2 Guns begins and ends with the effective pairing of Denzel and Marky Mark. Whether they're arguing over breakfast, or the appropriateness of winking... our two stars prove equal parts lovable and cool. Sure there's one-upmanship, but neither star loses sight of the big picture: Denzel warns, 'Don't get all We are the World on me.' Wahlberg's character wouldn't have it any other way.
Action fans won't walk away disappointed (lots of violence,) and red-blooded Americans will rejoice in a "bedtime chat" that's guaranteed to give you sweet dreams for the next week or so (Trust me: You'll know it, when you see it.) P.S. Keep an eye out for two wicked-cool masks during the movie's bank robbery, courtesy of Composite Effects. They're so convincing, similar ones were recently used in a check-cashing store robbery in New York. How'd they get caught? One of the crooks wrote a thank-you note to the aforementioned company that made their masks. Genius.
What’s Not: Get past its attractive wrapping (did I mention Paula Patton?) and 2 Guns offers little in terms of originality or plausibility. Case in point: Bobby (Washington) and Marcus (Wahlberg) literally break into a high-security naval facility in broad daylight; yet manage to walk away scott free. But even that pales in comparison to a ludicrous showdown at the end of the movie, complete with stampeding bulls.
Best Line: I consider Edward James Olmos (Miami Vice) TV cop royalty; but he's on the wrong end of three killer verbal blows (the first two delivered by Marcus, 'You look like a Mexican Albert Einstein,' and 'Don't put those pissy hands on me,' after Olmos' Papi Greco literally pisses on his hands (don't ask.) Finally, a CIA tough guy (Bill Paxton) referred to as 'God's son of a bitch' tries to appease Papi's manhood, 'I'm in awe of your cock.' Great lines, one and all.
Overall: Much as I hate saying it, Denzel may finally be showing signs of aging (he's 58.) That said, responses to awkward situations (Paxton puts a gun to Denzel's cookies, asking 'Where's the money?' are pure gold. 'It ain't down there: I can guarantee that.' Good luck trying to wrestle the title of "coolest M***** F***** in Hollywood" from this two-time Oscar winner. Teaming Washington with the younger Wahlberg would be challenging to most, but not Denzel. The two work perfectly with each other... avoiding sappy exchanges, and fighting each other to the very end (inevitable friendship notwithstanding.)
Grade: B
