Movie Review - The Nice Guys Runs Riot on the 1970s

Detectives and Los Angeles really seem to go together. Raymond Chandler went to this well repeatedly with his Philip Marlowe novels, James Ellroy made a solid mark in the genre, and so did Ross McDonald. Let's not forget the countless film noirs that are set in the land of near-constant sunshine. Shane Black's The Nice Guys is the latest addition to this memorable storytelling line.

Only, it's different.

If these three look nice, don't be fooled.

In short, the film is a riot. Disco-era Los Angeles becomes a playground infested by clueless detectives and an overabundance of illegal activities. The opening tells you all you need to know. A boy fresh off plundering an adult magazine from his parents' room strolls down the hallway to take it in. Then, BAM! a car comes crashing through the house, startling the boy. Who was in the car? None other than the woman (Murielle Telio) featured in the magazine.

Mr. Black gives no one peace. Private eye Holland March (Ryan Gosling) and beatdown-specialist investigator Jackson Healy (Russell Crowe), the titular "nice guys," do more to aid the chaotic scenes than alleviate them. They are helped by the March's determined teenage daughter (Angourie Rice). The resultant trio is offbeat and ridiculous. A perfect breeding ground for the film's numerous gags. It doesn't hurt that all three leads could not have played their parts any better. Gosling deserves special praise for bringing life to the clueless idiot his character happens to be. His chemistry with Crowe is, to some degree, evocative of Bob Hope and Bing Crosby. Rice takes on the Dorothy Lamour position in the sense that she helps bring balance between the two male leads.

These two have the makings of a solid comedy duo.

The writing and the directing are tight and lean. Everything put into the final cut belongs. There are no extraneous elements or self-gratuitous movie lengthening scenes. Stuff that seems meaningless at first sneaks back in later on and provides a solid pay-off. The lines and the gags, as I have already mentioned, are brilliant. Also, Black's directorial style fits perfectly with his stars. The understatement and irony in his shots elicits a comedic tone when you least expect it.

Mixed into the rampant chaos, of course, is a solid story. Holland March's and Jackson Healy's journey is about redemption. They both have experienced loss and both learn to move forward in their lives. For March, part of his growth is bonding with his mischievous daughter, Holly, albeit in an unconventional manner. The strong story is essential, as it provides structure and substance for the gags, which allows them to work at maximum effectiveness.

Los Angeles, the land of sun and neat detective stories.

Last but not least, the film's 1970s nostalgia comes through solidly. The music is well-chosen and the movie references are excellently timed. Also, making an adult film reel into a MacGuffin is an interesting choice.

Yes, the film is vulgar. However, if you're old enough, the humor is nothing short of hilarious. The Nice Guys may very well be the best comedy of the year.