Mr. Movie: ‘The Nice Guys’ the funniest movie of the year
Set in 1978, The Nice Guys has Russell Crowe as Jackson Healy and Ryan Gosling playing Holland March. They’re private detectives thrown together to solve a disappearance of a woman who did a porn movie. Oil and water mix better. But both wonder why those who were a part of the porn movie are dying like flies, and that makes teaming up advantageous.
No movie genre is more fun than a buddy movie that works. The Nice Guys does, and it’s a blast from the opening sequence to the roll of the credits. Shane Black, who wrote Lethal Weapon and directed the outrageous Kiss Kiss Bang Bang and Iron Man 3, is an expert on the genre.
Crowe and Gosling click and are obviously having as much fun making the movie as you’ll have watching it. Adding to the fun is young Angourie Rice, who plays March’s adolescent daughter. Rice is terrific and has pitch perfect comedy timing.
This one is a laugh-a-minute with one-liners tossed as fast as the bullets that fly in some of the action sequences.
The Nice Guys
Director: Shane Black
Stars: Russell Crowe, Ryan Gosling, Angourie Rice, Beau Knapp, Keith David, Margaret Qualley, Kim Basinger, Lois Smith, Murielle Telio, Matt Bomer
Mr. Movie rating: 5 Stars
Rated R for language, nudity, mature themes. It’s playing at Regal’s Columbia Center 8, the Fairchild Cinemas 12 and Queensgate 12 and at Walla Walla Grand Cinemas.
5 stars to 4 1/2 stars: Must see on the big screen.
4 stars to 3 1/2 stars: Good film, see it if it’s your type of movie.
3 stars to 2 1/2 stars: Wait until it comes out on DVD.
2 stars to 1 star: Don’t bother.
0 stars: Speaks for itself.
This story was originally published May 19, 2016 at 2:17 PM with the headline "Mr. Movie: ‘The Nice Guys’ the funniest movie of the year."