Review! The Nice Guys

Review for The Nice Guys (2016) Directed by Shane Black. Starring: Russell Crowe, Ryan Gosling, Angourie Rice. IMDB says “A mismatched pair of private eyes investigate the apparent suicide of a fading porn star in 1970s Los Angeles.”

“It’s Me-He for Yoo-Hoo”

It’s hard not to compare this film to Kiss Kiss Bang Bang. A lot of people will do that, and yeah, they’re kinda right. Both films feature two male characters that are thrust upon a very pulpy mystery. But that’s about it. The Nice Guys tells it’s own story in it’s own words and honestly, it’s good. It’s really good. It’s better than I thought it would be and there are two reasons for that. The first is the writing. For me, this film feels like a return to form for director/writer Shance Black (Iron Man 3, Kiss Kiss Bang Bang). The character dynamics are solid and every character throughout the film, no matter how big or small the role is, feels fleshed out and fully formed to the point where I want more of these characters. The other reason this film succeeds is Ryan Gosling. Holy shit.

The Nice Guys takes place in late 70s Los Angeles. Two private detectives cross paths while pursuing different angles of the same case. After some mysterious events, the two are forced to team up and solve a mystery that takes them deep into the world of, well, porn. Yeah. The premise might seem standard, but it’s anything but that as Jackson Healy (Russell Crowe) and Holland March (Ryan Gosling) meet eccentric, corrupted, beautiful, and hilarious characters whose complexities leave you guessing who’s really on the level. As solid as Russell Crowe is, the film belongs to Ryan Gosling. It’s not that he’s got the best lines, he’s just physically funny. He steals every scene he’s in by nailing those subtle moments and exaggerated scenes with such ease it makes you wonder if there is anything he can’t do. What helps is not only does he have Crowe to work with, but he has Angourie Rice. Rice plays his daughter Holly and is a surprisingly strong character. Her performance and her character are almost as interesting if not more interesting than Crowe’s.

The film feels like it’s stepped right out of the 70s with it’s fantastic sets and costuming. While the scenery sells you, the music closes the deal. The soundtrack is solid and features the music of The Temptations, Taste of Honey, The Climax Blues Band, Rupert Holmes, and others. It’s definitely one that puts you in the mindset of a sunny California day where a porn star has been murdered and people have gone missing. Cause we’ve all been there before, right? The film is definitely worth checking out in theatres especially if you’re feeling overwhelmed by the CGI extravaganzas currently in theatres. Just don’t bring the kids. Seriously, don’t.